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BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN 

AS  A  MAN  OF  LETTERS. 


• 


BOSTON: 

HOUGHTON,  MIFFLIN  AtfD   COMPANY. 
New  York:   11  East  Seventeen 


1887. 


SUmerican  a^en  of  3letter£* 


BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN 

AS  A  MAN  OF  LETTERS. 


BY 

JOHN  BACH  McMASTER, 

WHARTON  SCHOOL,  UNIVERSITY  OF  PENNSYLVANIA, 


BOSTON: 
HOUGHTON,  MIFFLIN  AND   COMPASTY. 

New  York:   11  East  Seventeenth  Street. 

C&e  J!to0r?i&e  ^res^ 

1887. 


Copyright,  1887, 
BY  JOHN  BACH  McMASTEB. 


All  rights  reserved. 


The  Riverside  Press,  Cambridge: 
Electrotyped  and  Printed  by  U.  0.  Houghton  &  Co. 


PREFATORY  NOTE. 


MY  thanks  are  due  to  Dr.  Samuel  Green,  of 
the  Massachusetts  Historical  Society ;  to  Mr. 
Theodore  Dwight,  of  the  Library  of  the  De 
partment  of  State  at  Washington  ;  to  Mr. 
Hildeburn,  of  the  Philadelphia  Athenaeum ;  and 
especially  to  Mr.  Lindsay  Swift,  of  the  Boston 
Public  Library,  and  Mr.  F.  D.  Stone,  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Historical  Society,  for  the  help  so 
kindly  given  me  when  gathering  the  material 
for  this  Life  of  Franklin. 


JOHN  BACH  McMASTER. 


PHILADELPHIA, 

October,  1887. 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 
1706-1723. 

Birth  and  early  training.  The  newspapers  and  literature 
of  New  England.  The  Dogood  Papers.  The  departure 
of  Franklin  from  Boston 1-35 

CHAPTER  II. 
1723-1729. 

Franklin  reaches  Philadelphia ;  is  employed  by  Keimer ; 
goes  to  London;  writes  a  pamphlet,  "Liberty  and 
Necessity " ;  comes  back  to  Philadelphia ;  opens  a 
printing  office ;  writes  "  The  Busybody,"  and  a  pam 
phlet  on  "  Paper  Money  " 36-64 

CHAPTER  III. 
1729-1748. 

Buys  Keimer's  "  Universal  Instructor  in  all  the  Arts  and 
Sciences,"  and  establishes  the  "  Pennsylvania  Gazette  "  ; 
notable  contributions;  his  "Parables"  and  "Biblical 
Paraphrases" 65-95 

CHAPTER  IV. 

1732-1748. 

Publishes  "  Poor  Richard  " ;  Father  Abraham's  Speech ; 
quarrels  with  Bradford ;  publishes  the  General  Maga 
zine  .  96-135 


Vlll  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  V. 
1743-1756. 

Franklin  becomes  interested  in  politics;  his  pamphlet 
"  Plain  Truth  "  ;  his  "  Proposals  relating  to  the  Educa 
tion  of  Youth  in  Pennsylvania" ;  founds  the  University 
of  Pennsylvania;  sells  the  printing  house  and  the 
newspaper ;  begins  to  study  electricity ;  his  scientific 
papers  ;  the  Albany  Plan  of  Union  ;  "Dialogue  between 
X,  Y,  Z ;  "  is  sent  to  London  by  the  Assembly  of 
Pennsylvania 136-167 

CHAPTER  VI. 
1756-1764. 

Political  writings  while  in  London  ;  the  pretended  chap 
ter  "  On  the  Meanes  of  disposing  the  Enemie  to  Peace  " ; 
returns  to  Pennsylvania ;  massacre  of  the  Indians  ; 
Franklin's  "Narrative  of  the  Massacre";  the  Paxton 
raid  ;  Franklin  lampooned  ;  his  "  Cool  Thoughts  "  ;  his 
"Preface  to  a  Speech  "  ;  is  lampooned  by  the  Proprie 
tary  Party ;  is  defeated  at  the  election  for  Assembly 
men  ;  is  sent  to  England  with  the  Address  to  the 
King ;  the  Proprietary  Party  protest ;  Franklin  writes 
"  Remarks  on  a  Protest "  168-188 

CHAPTER  VII. 
1764-1776. 

Reaches  London  ;  conduct  regarding  the  Stamp  Act ;  has 
Hughes  made  stamp  collector  ;  is  lampooned  for  this ; 
his  writings  for  the  London  newspapers;  "Rules  for 
reducing  a  Great  Empire  to  a  Small  One."  "  An  Edict 
of  the  King  of  Prussia."  Visits  France.  First  Eng 
lish  edition  of  his  works ;  Dubourg  translates  it  into 
French.  The  Hutchinson  Letters.  Abused  before  the 
Privy  Council.  Delivers  the  Declaration  of  Rights,  and 
returns  to  Philadelphia;  is  elected  to  Congress  .  189-217 


CHAPTER  VIE.. 
1776-1790. 

Is  sent  to  France.  Reception  at  Nantes ;  at  Paris ;  by 
the  French  people.  His  popularity.  Writes  "A  Com 
parison  of  Great  Britain  and  America"  ;  "  A  Catechism 
relative  to  the  English  National  Debt "  ;  "A  Dialogue 
between  Britain,  France,  Spain,  Holland,  Saxony,  and 
America."  His  way  of  life  at  Passy.  The  privateers. 
Madame  Helvetius.  Madame  Brillon.  "  The  Baga 
telles."  His  mission  ended.  Returns  to  Philadelphia. 
Writes  "  The  Retort  Courteous  "  ;  "  Remarks  on  Send 
ing  Felons  to  America  "  ;  "  Likeness  of  the  Anti-Feder 
alists  to  the  Jews."  His  anti-slavery  writings.  "  Mar 
tin's  Account  of  his  Consulship."  His  death.  .  218-250 

CHAPTER  IX. 

The  Autobiography.  Loss  of  the  manuscript  of  the 
first  part.  The  manuscript  recovered  and  continued. 
Copies  sent  to  England  and  France.  Publication  of  the 
first  part  at  Paris.  Translation  of  this  into  English. 
Temple  Franklin  begins  to  edit  the  papers.  Dr. 
Price's  edition  with  Steuben's  "  Life."  Temple  Frank 
lin  accused  of  selling  the  papers.  He  finally  publishes 
a  part.  Loss  of  the  unpublished  papers.  Their  singu 
lar  recovery.  Bought  by  Mr.  Stevens,  and  then  by  the 
Government  of  the  United  States.  Mr.  Bigelow  re 
covers  the  original  manuscript  of  the  Autobiography. 
Changes  made  by  Temple  Franklin  in  the  text.  Its 
popularity.  The  collected  works.  Franklin's  place  in 
literature.  Characteristics  of  his  style  ;  his  versatility; 
his  philosophy.  His  letters.  His  greatness  .  .  251-2 


BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN 

AS  A  MAN   OF  LETTERS. 


CHAPTER   I. 

1706-1723. 

THE  story  of  the  life  of  Benjamin  Franklin 
begins  at  a  time  when  Queen  Anne  still  ruled 
the  colonies ;  when  the  colonies  were  but  ten 
in  number,  and  when  the  population  of  the  ten 
did  not  sum  up  to  four  hundred  thousand  souls ; 
at  a  time  when  witches  were  plentiful  in  New 
England ;  when  foxes  troubled  the  farmers  of 
Lynn  ;  when  wolves  and  panthers  abounded  in 
Connecticut ;  when  pirates  infested  the  Atlan 
tic  coast ;  when  there  was  no  such  thing  as  a 
stage-coach  in  the  land ;  when  there  were  but 
three  colleges  and  one  newspaper  in  the  whole 
of  British  North  America ;  when  no  printing- 
press  existed  south  of  Philadelphia ;  when  New 
York  was  still  defended  by  a  high  stockade; 
and  when  Ann  Pollard,  the  first  white  woman 


2  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

that  ever  set  foot  on  the  soil  of  Boston,  was 
still  enjoying  a  hale  old  age. 

On  the  January  morning,  1706,  when  Frank 
lin  received  his  name  in  the  Old  South  Church 
at  Boston,  the  French  had  not  founded  the  city 
of  Mobile  nor  the  city  of  New  Orleans,  nor 
begun  the  construction  of  that  great  chain  of 
forts  which  stretched  across  our  country  from 
the  St.  Lawrence  to  the  Gulf.  Philip  Jones 
had  not  marked  out  the  streets  of  Baltimore  ; 
the  proprietors  of  Carolina  had  not  surrendered 
their  charter,  and  the  colony  was  still  governed 
on  the  absurd  plan  of  Locke ;  Delaware  was 
still  the  property  of  William  Penn ;  the 
founder  of  Georgia  was  a  lad  of  eighteen.  Of 
the  few  places  that  deserved  to  be  called  towns, 
the  largest  was  Boston.  Yet  the  area  of  Boston 
was  less  than  one  square  mile,  and  the  popula 
tion  did  not  equal  ten  thousand  souls.  The 
chief  features  of  the  place  were  three  hills, 
since  greatly  cut  down  ;  three  coves,  long  since 
rilled  up ;  the  patch  of  common,  where  the  cows 
fed  at  large  ;  and  the  famous  Neck.  Across  the 
Neck  was  a  barrier,  the  gate  of  which  was 
closed  each  night  at  nine,  and  never  opened  on 
the  Sabbath.  Behind  the  barrier  was  a  maze 
of  narrow  streets,  lined  with  buildings  most  of 
which  have  long  since  disappeared.  On  the 
site  of  the  Old  South  Church  stood  a  wooden 


PARENTS   OF  BENJAMIN.  3 

meeting-house,  pulled  down  in  1729.  Near  by 
were  the  pillory  and  the  stocks,  and  just  over 
the  way  on  Milk  Street  was  the  humble  dwell 
ing  of  Josiah  Franklin  and  Abiah  Folger  his 
wife. 

Josiah  was  an  Englishman,  a  dissenter,  and  a 
dyer ;  came  to  Boston  in  1685,  and,  finding  no 
use  for  his  trade,  abandoned  it  and  became  a 
tallow-chandler  instead.  Abiah  Folger  was  his 
second  wife.  The  first  wife  brought  him  seven 
children.  Abiah  brought  him  ten,  and  of  her 
ten  children  Benjamin  was  the  youngest  son. 
This  name  was  given  him  in  honor  of  an  uncle 
on  the  day  of  his  birth,  which,  by  the  records 
of  the  Old  South  Church,  must  have  been  the 
sixth  of  January  (Old  Style),  1706. 

Those  were  the  days  of  compulsory  education 
and  compulsory  thrift,  the  days  when  it  was 
the  duty  of  the  selectmen  to  see  that  every 
Boston  boy  could  read  and  write  the  English 
tongue,  had  some  knowledge  of  the  capital 
laws,  knew  by  heart  some  orthodox  catechism, 
and  was  brought  up  to  do  some  honest  work. 
Benjamin  began  his  education  at  home ;  was 
sent  when  he  was  eight  to  the  Latin  School, 
and  soon  after  to  that  of  George  Brownell,  a 
pedagogue  famed  for  his  skill  in  arithmetic 
and  the  use  of  the  quill.  To  this  school  he 
went  regularly  till  the  master  ceased  to  teach 


4  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

boys  to  make  pot-hooks  nnd  loops,  and  began  to 
teach  women  to  make  new-fashioned  purses  and 
to  paint  on  glass,  to  do  feather-work  and  fili 
gree  and  embroider  a  new  way,  to  put  Turkey 
work  on  handkerchiefs,  flowers  on  muslin,  and 
cover  their  short  aprons  with  rich  brocade  ;  till 
he  turned  dressmaker  and  barber,  made  gowns 
and  furbelowed  scarfs,  and  cut  gentlewomen's 
hair  in  the  newest  fashion. 

When  this  change  took  place  Benjamin  was 
ten.  His  schooling  then  ended,  and  for  two 
years  he  cut  wicks,  molded  candles,  tended  shop, 
ran  on  errands,  and  talked  much  of  going  to  sea. 
The  parents  had  intended  to  breed  him  to  the 
church,  and  an  uncle  graciously  promised  to 
leave  him  a  bundle  of  sermons  taken  down  from 
time  to  time  in  short-hand.1  But  even  this  could 
not  move  him.  Benjamin  remained  steadfast ; 
and  Josiah,  alarmed  at  this  fondness  for  ships 
and  sailors,  determined  to  bind  him  to  some 
trade  that  should  keep  him  on  shore. 

Like  a  man  of  sense,  the  father  tried  to  find 
the  lad's  bent,  took  him  on  long  walks  about 
town,  went  among  the  bricklayers  and  the 

1  One  of  the  sermons  taken  down  in  this  way  is  yet  extant. 
The  title  is,  "  A  Discourse  on  Forgiveness.  In  Three  Sermons 
from  Matt.  vi.  15.  By  Nathaniel  Vincent.  Taken  down  in 
short-hand  by  one  of  his  hearers.  Boston,  J.  Franklin,  1722." 
The  remarks  "  To  the  Reader "  are  signed  B.  F.,  and  this 
B.  F.  was  undoubtedly  Benjamin  Franklin  the  elder. 


( 


TJNJ 


LIBRARY  OF  JOS  I  AH.  5 

joiners,  the  tanners  and  the  cutlers,  watched 
him  closely,  and  decided  that  he  should  become 
a  maker  of  knives.  Benjamin  was  now  sent  to 
a  cousin  who  had  learned  the  trade  in  London. 
But  a  fee  was  asked.  Josiah  was  vexed,  and 
the  boy  was  soon  home  and  in  the  shop. 

There  he  fell  to  reading.  As  to  the  charac 
ter  of  the  books  that  made  the  library  of  Josiah 
Franklin,  neither  his  will,  inventory,  nor  account 
afford  much  information.  From  the  inventory 
it  appears  that  he  died  possessed  of  two  large 
bibles,  a  concordance,  "  Willard's  Body  of  Di 
vinity,"  and  "  a  parcel  of  small  books."  But 
we  gather  from  the  autobiography  of  Benjamin 
that  the  collection  of  books  that  lay  upon  the 
shelves  was,  with  a  few  exceptions,  such  as  no 
boy  of  our  tim«  thinks  of  reading  ;  such  as  can 
not  be  found  even  in  the  libraries  of  students 
uncovered  with  dust;  such  as  are  rarely  seen  in 
the  catalogues  of  book  auctions,  and  never  come 
into  the  hands  of  bookbinders  to  be  reclothed. 
There  were,  Mather's  "Essay  to  do  Good," 
and  Defoe's  "Essay  on  Projects,"  Plutarch's 
"Lives,"  the  only  readable  book  in  the  collec 
tion,  and  a  pile  of  thumbed  and  dog-eared  pam 
phlets  on  polemical  theology  such  as  any  true 
son  of  the  dissenting  church  might  read ;  such 
as  those  in  which  Increase  Mather  and  Solomon 
Stoddart  discussed  the  grave  questions,  Can  bap- 


6  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

tized  persons  destitute  of  religion  come  to  the 
table  of  the  Lord  ?  Is  it  lawful  to  wear  long 
hair  ?  At  what  time  of  evening  does  the  Sabbath 
begin  ?  Is  it  lawful  for  men  to  set  their  dwelling- 
houses  at  such  a  distance  from  the  place  of  pub 
lic  worship  that  they  and  their  families  cannot 
well  attend  it?  Uninviting  as  this  literature 
may  seem,  Franklin  read  it  with  pleasure,  for 
he  was  by  nature  a  debater  and  a  disputatious 
man.  Indeed,  there  is  much  reason  to  believe 
that  he  was  himself  the  author  of  an  eight-page 
tract  ridiculing  some  of  Stoddart's  remarks,  and 
called  "  Hooped  Petticoats  Arraigned  and  Con 
demned  by  the  Light  of  Nature  and  the  Law 
of  God." 

These  books  finished,  he  determined  to  get 
more.  Borrow  he  could  not.  He  knew  no 
bookseller,  and  a  circulating  library  did  not 
exist  anywhere  in  America.  In  a  room  in  the 
Town  Hall  at  Boston  were  gathered  a  few  vol 
umes  which,  in  old  wills,  old  letters,  and  the 
diaries  of  prominent  men,  is  called  the  "  Public 
Library."  But  there  is  not  any  reason  to  sup 
pose  that  one  of  the  books  could  have  been 
carried  home  by  a  tallow-chandler's  son,  or 
treated  of  any  subject  less  serious  than  religion. 
In  the  whole  town  there  was  not,  in  all  likeli 
hood,  a  solitary  copy  of  any  of  the  works  of  one 
of  that  glorious  band  of  writers  who  made  the 


LITERATURE  OF  THE   TIME.  7 

literature  of  the  reign  of  Queen  Anne  so  fa 
mous.  The  first  catalogue  of  Harvard  Library 
was  printed  in  1723,  yet  there  is  not  in  it  the 
title  of  any  of  the  works  of  Addison,  of  any  of 
the  satires  of  Swift,  of  any  of  the  poems  of  Pope, 
of  any  of  the  writings  of  Bolingbroke  or  Dry- 
den,  Steele,  Prior,  or  Young.  The  earliest  copy 
of  Shakespeare  brought  to  America  was  of  the 
edition  of  1709.  No  copy  was  ever  advertised 
for  sale  till  1722.  Even  such  books  as  Harvard 
did  own,  it  was  seriously  urged,  should,  after 
the  manner  of  the  Bodleian  Library,  be  chained 
to  the  desk. 

Nor  did  the  boy  fare  much  better  when, 
with  the  few  halfpence  he  had  saved,  he  went 
among  the  booksellers  to  buy.  The  steam 
printing-press  has,  in  our  time,  placed  within 
reach  of  the  poorest  office-boy  the  most  delight 
ful  works  of  poetry  and  travel,  of  history  and 
biography,  of  essay  and  fiction,  the  languages  of 
ten  civilized  nations  can  afford.  When  Frank 
lin  began  to  read,  a  printing-press  was  a  "  raree 
show."  Neither  in  New  Hampshire,  nor  Rhode 
Island,  nor  New  Jersey,  nor  Delaware  had  such 
a  thing  been  seen.  He  was  three  years  old  be 
fore  a  type  was  set  in  Connecticut.  He  was 
twenty  when  the  first  press  reached  Maryland. 
He  was  twenty-three  before  one  was  perma 
nently  set  up  in  Virginia,  and  another  year 


8  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

passed  by  before  a  printer  appeared  in  the  Car- 
olinas.  In  the  four  colonies  where  there  were 
printers,  the  press  was  busy  in  the  cause  of  the 
church.  Between  the  first  of  January,  1706, 
and  the  first  of  January,  1718,  all  the  publica 
tions  known  to  have  been  printed  in  America 
number  at  least  five  hundred  and  fifty.  Of 
these  but  eighty-four  are  not  on  religious  topics, 
and  of  the  eighty-four,  forty-nine  are  almanacs. 
"  The  Origin  of  the  Whalebone  Petticoat ;  " 
"  The  Simple  Cobbler  of  Agawam  in  America ; " 
John  Williams's  "  Redeemed  Captive  Returning 
to  Zion,"  an  Indian  story,  which  for  a  time 
was  more  sought  after  than  Mather's  "  Treacle 
fetched  out  of  a  Viper ; "  Mary  Rowlandson's 
44  Captivity  among  the  Indians,"  and  "  Enter 
taining  Passages  relating  to  Philip's  War,"  were 
the  only  approaches  made  in  all  these  years  to 
what  would  now  be  called  light  literature. 

Among  the  four  hundred  and  sixty-six  books 
of  a  religious  tone,  by  far  the  best  was  "  Pil 
grim's  Progress,"  printed  at  Boston  in  1681  and 
reprinted  in  1706.  A  copy  of  this  was  Benja 
min's  first  purchase ;  was  read,  reread,  and 
sold,  and,  with  the  money  and  a  few  more 
pence  he  had  saved,  forty  volumes  of  Bur 
ton's  "Historical  Collections"  were  secured. 
The  bent  of  his  mind  was  now  unmistakable. 
He  stood  in  no  danger  of  going  to  sea ;  he  did 


COTTON  MATHER.  9 

not  need  his  uncle's  sermons ;  lie  would  never 
be  content  to  mold  candles  nor  grind  knives. 
For  the  lad  who  could  deny  himself  the  few 
treats  afforded  by  a  Puritan  town,  save  his  cop 
pers  and  lay  them  out  on  such  books  as  were 
then  to  be  had  at  Boston,  there  seemed  to  be 
but  one  career,  the  career  of  a  man  of  letters. 

No  such  man  had  then  appeared  in  the 
colonies.  The  greatest  American  then  living 
was  unquestionably  Cotton  Mather.  Yet  he 
is  in  no  sense  deserving  to  be  called  a  man  of 
letters.  His  pen,  indeed,  was  never  idle.  Four 
hundred  and  twenty-three  of  his  productions 
are  still  extant,  yet  our  literature  would  have 
suffered  no  loss  if  every  one  of  them  had 
perished.  Everything  that  he  left  is  of  value, 
but  the  value  is  of  that  kind  which  belongs  to  a 
bit  of  the  Charter  Oak ;  to  a  sword  worn  by  Miles 
Standish ;  to  an  uncomfortable  chair  in  which 
Governor  Bradford  sat;  or  to  a  broken  plate 
used  by  the  Pilgrims  on  their  voyage  to  Ply 
mouth.  To  hurry  through  a  volume  and  write 
a  sermon  was,  with  Mather,  a  morning's  work. 
To  preach  seventy  sermons  in  public,  forty 
more  in  private,  publish  fourteen  pamphlets, 
keep  thirty  vigils  arid  sixty  fasts,  and  still  have 
time  for  persecuting  witches,  was  nothing  un 
usual  for  him  to  do  in  a  year.  The  habit  of 
starving  the  body  to  purify  the  soul  he  adopted 


10  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

when  a  lad  of  fourteen,  and  in  the  fifty-two 
years  that  remained  to  him  his  fasts  were  more 
than  four  hundred  and  fifty.  Sometimes  they 
numbered  ten  a  week.  Often  they  lasted  three 
days.  On  all  such  occasions  he  would  lie  face 
downward  on  his  study-floor,  fasting,  weeping, 
praying,  calling  on  the  name  of  God.  By  the 
time  he  was  forty,  even  such  mortification  was 
not  enough  for  him,  and  he  began  to  keep 
vigils ;  then  he  would  leave  his  bed  at  the  dead 
of  night,  fall  prostrate  on  the  floor  of  his  library, 
and  spend  the  hours  of  darkness  "  wrestling 
with  God  "  and  getting  "  unutterable  commu 
nications  from  Heaven."  The  simplest  act  of 
life  was  to  Mather  an  occasion  for  religious 
meditation.  When  he  mended  his  fire  he 
remembered  that  godliness  should  flame  up 
within  him.  When  he  washed  his  hands  he 
recalled  that  a  pure  heart  was  also  required  of 
the  citizen  of  Zion.  When  he  pared  his  nails 
he  reflected  on  the  duty  of  putting  away  all 
superfluity  of  naughtiness.  If  a  tall  man 
passed  him  on  the  street  he  would  exclaim, 
"Lord,  give  that  man  high  attainments  in 
Christianity."  When  he  saw  a  lame  man  he 
would  say,  "  Lord,  help  him  to  walk  uprightly." 
In  early  life  Mather  stuttered  and  stammered, 
and  spoke  with  difficulty.  Thinking  himself 
unfit  to  serve  the  Lord,  he  began  to  fit  himself 


THE  FIRST  NEWSPAPER.  11 

to  serve  man,  and  studied  medicine.  But  an 
old  schoolmaster  cured  hirn  of  stuttering;  he 
began  to  preach,  and  is  now  remembered  for 
the  support  he  gave  to  inoculation,  to  the  witch 
craft  delusion  of  1692,  and  to  the  censorship  of 
the  press  James  Franklin  and  his  apprentice 
Benjamin  did  so  much  to  destroy. 

It  was  in  1718,  when  he  had  just  turned 
twelve,  that  Benjamin  was  bound  to  his  brother, 
who  a  year  later  began  to  print  the  second 
newspaper  in  America.  Not  many  years  ago 
the  historian  of  the  town  of  Salem,  while 
rummaging  among  the  records  of  the  Colonial 
State  Paper  Office  at  London,  brought  to  light 
a  small  four-page  sheet  entitled  "  Publick  Oc 
currences,  Both  Foreign  and  Domestick."  The 
date  was  Thursday,  September  25,  1690 ;  the 
size  of  each  page  was  seven  inches  by  eleven, 
and  one  of  the  four  was  blank.  The  purpose  of 
"  Publick  Occurrences  "  was  praiseworthy.  He 
wished,  the  printer  declared,  to  do  "some 
thing  towards  the  curing,  or  at  least  the 
charming,  of  the  spirit  of  lying ; "  and  he 
should,  he  promised,  put  forth  an  issue  once 
each  month,  unless  a  "glut  of  occurrences" 
required  it  oftener.  Four  days  later  the  Gen 
eral  Court  decided  that  "  Publick  Occurrences  " 
was  a  pamphlet,  that  it  contained  reflections  of 
a  high  nature,  that  it  was  printed  contrary  to 


12  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

law,  and  that  henceforth  nothing  should  come 
from  the  press  till  a  license  had  first  been 
obtained.  None  was  ever  issued  for  the  offend 
ing  pamphlet,  and,  save  that  at  London,  no  copy 
of  it  has  since  been  seen. 

"Publick  Occurrences"  is  commonly  believed 
to  have  been  the  first  newspaper  in  our  country. 
It  might  more  truly  be  called  the  first  maga 
zine,  for  it  was,  as  the  General  Court  declared, 
a  pamphlet.  The  true  newspaper  did  not 
appear  for  fourteen  years,  and  was  then  begun 
by  the  Boston  postmaster.  The  duties  of  his 
place  were  far  from  exacting.  If  he  opened 
his  office  on  Monday  of  each  week  from  seven 
to  twelve  for  the  distribution  of  letters  the 
riders  brought  in,  and  again  from  two  to  seven 
for  the  reception  of  letters  the  riders  were  to 
take  out,  collected  postage  once  a  quarter, 
made  a  list  of  letters  not  called  for,  and  higgled 
with  ship-captains  for  distributing  letters  they 
ought  to  have  lodged  with  him,  he  did  all  he 
was  required  to  do. 

To  John  Campbell,  however,  these  duties 
were  not  enough,  and  to  them  he  added  those  of 
a  gatherer  of  news.  He  visited  every  stranger 
that  came  to  town,  boarded  every  ship  that 
entered  the  bay,  collected  what  scraps  of  news 
he  could,  and  wrote  them  out  in  a  fair  hand  for 
the  public  good.  Copies  of  his  "  News  Letter  " 


"BOSTON  NEWS  LETTER"  13 

passed  from  hand  to  hand  at  the  Coffee  House, 
found  their  way  to  the  neighboring  towns,  and 
went  out  in  the  mail  to  the  governors  of  the 
New  England  colonies.  As  time  passed,  the 
glut  of  occurrences  steadily  increased ;  his  work 
grew  daily  more  in  favor ;  and  he  was  at  last 
compelled  to  lay  down  the  pen,  betake  himself 
to  type,  and  become  the  founder  of  the  Ameri 
can  newspaper.  Monday,  the  seventeenth  of 
April,  1704,  was  a  white  day  in  the  annals  of 
Boston,  and  as  the  printer  struck  off  the  first 
copy  of  the  first  number  of  the  "  Boston  News 
Letter,"  Chief  Justice  Sewell,  who  stood  by, 
seized  the  paper  and  bore  it,  damp  from  the 
press,  to  the  President  of  Harvard  College. 
Some  extracts  from  the  "  Flying  Post "  concern 
ing  the  Pretender,  the  text  of  a  sermon  licensed 
to  be  printed,  notices  of  a  couple  of  arrivals,  of 
a  couple  of  deaths,  of  the  appointment  of  an 
admiralty  judge  and  deputy,  and  a  call  for 
business,  is  all  it  contains. 

During  fifteen  years  the  "  News  Letter " 
had  no  rival.  But  in  1719  Campbell  lost  the 
post-office,  refused  in  revenge  to  have  his  news 
papers  carried  by  the  riders,  and  the  new  post 
master  at  once  established  the  "  Boston  Ga 
zette,"  and  gave  the  matter  to  James  Franklin 
to  print.  While  engaged  in  setting  type  and 
mixing  ink  in  his  brother's  office,  Benjamin 


14  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

began  to  write.  His  first  attempts  were  two 
ballads  in  doggerel  verse,  treating  of  subjects 
which  at  that  time  filled  the  popular  mind.  The 
keeper  of  the  Boston  light  had  been  drowned 
in  a  storm.  A  pirate  renowned  along  the  whole 
coast  had  been  killed. 

There  is  not  now  living  a  man  who  has  ever 
beheld  such  a  rover  out  of  the  China  seas. 
Early  in  the  eighteenth  century  the  black  flag 
had  been  seen  by  scores  of  captains  who  went 
in  and  out  of  the  colonial  ports.  From  the 
West  Indies,  from  New  Providence,  from  the 
sounds  and  inlets  of  the  Virginia  coast,  from 
Cape  Fear  River,  from  Pamlico  Sound,  from 
the  very  shores  of  Massachusetts,  freebooter 
after  freebooter  sallied  forth  to  plunder  and 
destroy.  When  Captain  Kidd  died  in  1700, 
Quelch  succeeded  him,  and  long  found  shelter 
in  the  bays  and  harbors  of  New  England.  In 
one  of  them,  on  a  return  from  a  prosperous 
coasting  trip,  the  people  surprised  him,  and 
hanged  him  with  six  companions  on  the  banks 
of  Charles  River,  June  30,  1704.  The  event  is 
memorable  as  it  became  the  occasion  of  the 
first  piece  of  newspaper  reporting  in  America. 
In  the  crowd  that  stood  about  the  gallows-tree 
that  day  in  June  was  John  Campbell,  who,  in 
the  next  number  of  the  "  News  Letter,"  de 
scribed  the  scene,  "  the  exhortation  to  the  inal- 


TREATMENT  OF  PIRATES.  15 

efactors,"  and  the  prayer  put  up  for  the  cul 
prits'  repose,  "  as  nearly,"  says  he,  "  as  it  could 
be  taken  down  in  writing  in  a  great  crowd." 

From  the  moment  such  a  character  fell  into 
the  clutches  of  the  law  he  became  the  victim 
of  the  most  terrible  religious  enginery  the  col 
ony  could  produce.  His  trial  was  speedy.  His 
conviction  was  sure.  His  sentence  was  imposed 
by  the  judge  in  a  long  sermon  after  a  long 
prayer,  and  he  was,  on  the  Sunday  or  the  Thurs 
day  before  execution,  brought  to  the  meeting 
house  loaded  with  chains,  and  placed  in  the 
front  seats,  to  be  reprobated  and  held  up  by 
name  to  the  whole  congregation  behind  him. 
The  day  of  his  death  was  a  gala  day.  The 
entire  town  inarched  in  procession  behind  his 
coffin  to  the  foot  of  the  Common,  to  Boston 
Neck,  or  to  Broughton's  Hill  on  the  Charles 
River,  where  stood  the  gallows,  from  one  end  of 
which  floated  a  huge  black  flag  adorned  with  a 
figure  of  Death  holding  a  dart  in  one  hand  and 
an  hour-glass  in  the  other.  There,  after  just 
such  prayers  and  exhortations  as  Campbell  has 
described,  the  pirate  would  be  left  swinging  in 
his  chains. 

Next  in  turn  came  Bellamy,  the  terror  of 
every  New  England  sailor  till  in  1717  he  was 
wrecked  on  Cape  Cod,  where  such  of  his  crew 
as  did  not  perish  in  the  sea  were  hanged. 


16  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

"When  George  I.  came  to  the  throne  New  Prov 
idence  was  a  nest  of  pirates,  and  thither  a  ship 
of  war  was  sent  to  drive  them  out.  Two  sought 
refuge  in  Cape  Fear  River,  a  third  took  up  his 
abode  among  the  people  of  Parnlico  Sound. 
There,  protected  by  the  governor,  dreaded  by 
the  people,  he  squandered  in  riot  and  debauch 
ery  his  ill-gotten  wealth.  When  all  was  gone, 
Theach  went  back  to  his  roving  life,  gathered 
a  crew,  procured  a  ship,  cleared  her  as  a  mer 
chantman,  and  was  again  a  pirate  chief.  In  a 
few  weeks  he  was  home  with  a  rich  cargo  in  a 
fine  French  ship.  He  swore  the  vessel  had 
been  picked  up  at  sea.  But  the  people  knew 
better,  sent  Governor  Spottiswoode  word,  and 
a  man-of-war  soon  appeared  in  Pamlico  Sound. 
Theach  descried  her  one  evening  in  November, 
1718,  and  the  next  morning  a  running  fight 
took  place  through  the  sounds  and  inlets  of 
that  singular  coast.  Discipline  prevailed ;  the 
pirate  was  boarded,  and  as  Theach,  covered 
with  wounds  and  surrounded  by  the  dead, 
stepped  back  match  in  hand  to  fire  a  pistol,  he 
fainted  and  fell  upon  the  deck. 

The  Christian  name  of  Theach  was  John  ; 
but  among  the  wretches  who  manned  his  guns 
and  furled  his  sails,  and  the  captains  who  fled 
in  terror  from  his  flag,  he  passed  by  the  name 
of  Blackbeard.  He  was  a  boy's  ideal  of  a  pirate 


"  BLACKBEARD"  17 

chief.  His  brow  was  low ;  his  eyes  were  small ; 
his  huge,  shaggy  beard,  black  as  a  coal,  hung 
far  down  upon  his  breast.  Over  his  shoulders 
were  three  braces  of  pistols  ;  in  battle,  lighted 
matches  stuck  out  from  under  his  hat  and  pro 
truded  from  behind  his  ears.  In  his  fits  of 
rage  he  became  a  demon.  But  his  hours  of 
good-nature  were  more  to  be  feared  than  his 
moments  of  fury.  Sometimes  he  would  amuse 
the  boon-companions  of  his  crew  by  shooting 
out  the  light  of  his  cabin  ;  sometimes  he  would 
send  balls  whizzing  past  the  ears  or  through  the 
hair  of  those  who  sat  with  him  at  table.  To 
mimic  the  Devil  was  a  favorite  sport,  and  on  one 
occasion,  to  give  greater  reality  to  his  imper 
sonation,  the  hatches  were  battened  down  and 
the  crew  half  stifled  with  the  fumes  of  sulphur. 
The  death  of  such  a  character  in  a  hand-to- 
hand  conflict  on  the  deck  of  his  own  ship  was 
as  fine  a  subject  for  song  as  a  writer  of  ballads 
could  desire.  The  street  ballad  was  then  and 
long  remained  the  chief  source  of  popular  infor 
mation.  If  a  great  victory  were  won  on  land 
or  sea ;  if  a  murder  were  committed ;  if  a  noted 
criminal  were  hanged ;  if  a  highwayman  were 
caught ;  if  a  ship  were  wrecked  ;  if  a  good  man 
died ;  if  a  sailor  came  back  from  the  Spanish 
main  with  some  strange  tale  of  adventure,  a 
ballad-monger  was  sure  to  put  the  details  into 


18  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

doggerel  rhyme,  and  the  event  became  fixed  in 
the  mind  of  the  people.  The  influence  of  such 
verses  was  great  and  lasting,  the  demand  for 
them  -was  incessant,  and  the  printer  who  could 
furnish  a  steady  supply  was  sure  of  a  rich  re 
turn.  Thomas  Fleet  is  said  to  have  made  no 
small  part  of  his  fortune  by  the  sale  of  ballads 
his  press  struck  off.  James  Franklin,  with  a 
like  purpose  in  view,  bade  his  apprentice  turn 
his  knack  of  rhyming  to  some  use,  suggested 
the  themes,  and  when  the  ballads  were  printed 
sent  Benjamin  forth  to  hawk  them  in  the 
street.  That  upon  the  drowning  of  the  light- 
keeper  and  his  family  sold  prodigiously,  for  the 
event  was  recent  and  the  man  well  known  ;  yet 
not  a  line  of  it  remains. 

/  From  the  manufacture  of  ballad  poetry  Ben 
jamin  was  saved  by  his  father,  who  told  him 
plainly  that  all  poets  were  beggars,  and  that  he 
would  do  well  to  turn  his  time  and  talents  to 
better  use.  The  advice  was  taken,  and  Benja 
min  went  on  with  his  reading.  An  intense 
longing  for  books  possessed  him.  When  he  had 
secured  one,  he  read  and  reread  it  till  he  ob 
tained  another,  and  to  get  others  he  shrewdly 
gained  the  friendship  of  some  booksellers'  ap 
prentices  and  persuaded  them,  in  his  behalf,  to 
commit  temporary  theft.  Urged  on  by  him, 
night  after  night  they  purloined  from  their 


READS  THE  SPECTATOR.  19 

masters'  shelves  such  books  as  he  wanted,  and 
left  them  with  him  to  read.  Some  were  pe 
rused  at  leisure ;  some  that  could  not  long  be 
spared  were  taken  after  the  shutters  were  up 
in  the  evening  and  returned  in  the  morning  be 
fore  the  shutters  were  down.  Then  he  would 
sit  up  till  the  dawn  was  soon  to  break,  reading 
by  the  light  of  a  farthing  candle  made  in  his 
father's  shop. 

Everything  that  he  read  at  this  time  of  life 
influenced  him  strongly.  A  wretched  book  on 
vegetable  diet  came  into  his  hands,  and  he  at 
once  began  to  live  on  rice,  potatoes,  and  hasty- 
pudding.  He  read  Xenophon's  "  Memorabilia," 
and  ever  after  used  the  Socratic  method  of  dis 
pute  ;  he  read  Shaftesbury  and  Collins,  and  be 
came  a  skeptic  ;  he  read  a  volume  of  Addison, 
and  gained  a  delightful  style. 

As  first  published,  the  "  Spectator  "  appeared 
in  seven  volumes,  and  of  these,  after  many 
vicissitudes,  the  third  crossed  the  Atlantic  and 
fell  in  the  way  of  Franklin.  No  one  knew  the 
contents  of  the  Boston  bookshops  better  than 
he.  Yet  the  volume  was,  he  tells  us,  the 
first  of  the  series  he  had  seen.  It  is  not  un 
likely  that  another  copy  could  not  then  be 
found  in  the  province  of  Massachusetts  Bay. 
However  this  may  be,  Franklin  had  now  read 
the  book  which  affected  him  far  more  deeply 


20  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

than  anything  else  he  read  to  his  dying  day. 
Lad  though  he  was,  the  rare  wit,  the  rich  hu 
mor,  the  grace  of  style,  the  worldly  wisdom  of 
the  "  Spectator,"  amazed  and  delighted  him. 
After  nightfall,  on  Sundays,  in  the  early  morn 
ing,  whenever  he  had  a  moment  to  spare,  the 
book  was  before  him.  Again  and  again  he  read 
the  essays  and  determined  to  make  them  his 
model.  He  would  take  some  number  that  par 
ticularly  pleased  him,  jot  down  the  substance  of 
each  sentence,  put  by  the  notes,  and,  after  a 
day  or  two,  reproduce  the  essay  in  language  of 
his  own.  This  practice  convinced  him  that  his 
great  want  was  a  stock  of  words,  and  he  at 
once  began  to  turn  the  tales  into  verse.  The 
search  after  words  that  would  not  change  the 
sense,  yet  were  of  length  to  suit  the  meter  and 
of  sound  to  suit  the  rhyme,  was,  he  felt  sure, 
the  best  way  to  supply  the  deficiency. 

When  his  vocabulary  had  been  enlarged, 
Franklin  began  to  study  arrangement  of 
thought.  Then  he  would  put  down  his  notes  in 
any  order,  and  after  a  while  seek  to  rearrange 
the  sentences  in  the  order  of  the  essay.  Next 
he  fell  to  reading  books  on  navigation  and  arith 
metic,  rhetoric  and  grammar,  Locke  "  On  the 
Human  Understanding,"  and  "  The  Art  of 
Thinking,"  by  the  members  of  Port  Royal. 
Some  of  these  he  bought.  The  money  to  buy 


"NEW  ENGLAND  COURANT"  21 

with  was  obtained  by  persuading  the  brother  to 
give  him  half  the  shillings  paid  out  in  board 
and  let  him  board  himself,  by  putting  in  prac 
tice  a  theory  of  vegetable  diet,  by  refusing  meat 
and  fish,  eating  bread  and  biscuit,  and  so  sav 
ing  a  little  even  of  the  pittance. 

Thus  equipped,  Benjamin  began  his  literary- 
career  at  the  age  of  fifteen.  After  holding  office 
seven  months,  the  successor  of  John  Campbell 
was  turned  out,  the  "  Boston  Gazette  "  passed 
to  other  hands,  James  Franklin  ceased  to  print 
it,  and  amazed  the  town  by  starting  a  news 
paper  of  his  own.  The  name  of  this  weekly 
was  the  "  New  England  Courant."  In  point  of 
time  it  came  fourth  in  the  colonies,  for,  the  day 
before  the  first  number  was  seen  at  Boston,  Brad 
ford's  "  American  Mercury  "  appeared  at  Phila 
delphia.  In  quality  the  "  Courant "  was  the  most 
readable,  the  most  entertaining,  the  most  aggres 
sive  newspaper  of  the  four.  Precisely  what  the 
early  numbers  contained  cannot  now  be  known, 
for  not  an  impression  of  a  number  earlier  than 
the  eighteenth  is  extant.  It  is  certain,  how 
ever,  that  they  were  filled  with  sprightly  con 
tributions  from  a  set  of  young  men  who,  weary 
of  the  dullness  of  the  "  News  Letter  "  and  the 
"  Gazette,"  came  to  the  office  of  James  Franklin 
and  supplied  the  "  Courant "  with  what  passed 
for  wit.  They  were,  we  are  told,  young  doc- 


22  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

tors,  and  had  picked  up  some  knowledge  of 
medicine  by  watching  the  barbers  cup  and  let 
blood,  and  by  pounding  drugs  and  serving  as 
apprentices  in  the  offices  of  physicians  of  the 
town. 

Though  their  knowledge  of  physic  was  small, 
their  impudence  was  great,  and  the  "  Cou- 
rant,"  before  the  fourth  number  was  reached, 
had  plunged  into  a  warm  dispute  over  the 
greatest  medical  discovery  of  the  age.  What 
Lady  Mary  Wortley  Montagu  had  done  for 
Europe,  Cotton  Mather  was  doing  for  America. 
He  had  read  in  the  "  Transactions  of  the  Royal 
Society  "  of  the  wonders  of  inoculation,  believed 
in  it,  and  was  urging  and  begging  his  townsmen 
to  submit  to  a  trial.  Indeed,  he  was  demon 
strating  the  efficacy  of  the  preventive  before 
their  very  eyes.  But  for  his  pains  they  rewarded 
him  as  every  man  has  been  rewarded  who  ever 
yet  bestowed  any  blessing  on  the  human  race. 
He  was  called  a  fool.  He  was  pronounced  mad. 
He  was  told  that  the  smallpox,  which  that 
very  year  was  carrying  off  one  in  every  thir 
teen  of  the  inhabitants  of  Boston,  was  a  scourge 
sent  from  God,  and  that  to  seek  to  check  it  was 
impious.  One  wretch  flung  a  lighted  hand- 
grenade,  with  some  vile  language  attached, 
through  a  window  of  Mather's  house.  The 
"  Courant "  declared  that  inoculation  was  from 


DISPUTE   WITH  MATHER.  23 

the  devil.  Were  not  the  ministers  for  it,  and 
did  not  the  devil  often  use  good  men  to  spread 
his  delusions  on  the  world?  Increase  Mather 
called  this  "  a  horrid  thing  to  be  related  ; "  said, 
with  truth,  that  he  had  seen  the  time  when  the 
civil  government  would  have  speedily  put  down 
such  "  a  cursed  libel ;"  withdrew  his  subscrip 
tion,  and  sent  his  grandson  each  week  to  the 
office  to  buy  a  copy  of  the  sheet.  Cotton  Mather 
applied  to  the  "  Courant "  such  epithets  as  he 
might  have  used  in  speaking  of  a  book  by  Calef. 
The  newspaper  was,  he  said,  "full  freighted 
with  nonsense,  unmanliness,  raillery,  profane- 
ness,  immorality,  arrogance,  calumnies,  lies,  con 
tradictions,  and  whatnot."  The  whole  town 
was  divided.  Some  remonstrated  with  James 
Franklin  on  the  street.  Some  attacked  him  in 
the  "News  Letter"  and  the  "Gazette."  So 
many  hastened  to  support  him  that  forty  new 
subscribers  were  secured  in  a  month.  Such  an 
increase  was  great,  for  no  newspaper  then 
pretended  to  have  a  circulation  of  three  hun 
dred  copies. 

It  was  at  this  time,  while  the  dispute  with  the 
Mathers  was  warmest,  that  some  manuscript 
was  found  one  morning  on  the  printing-house 
floor.  Benjamin  wrote  it,  and  modestly  thrust 
it  under  the  door  during  the  night.  The  "  Au 
tobiography  "  makes  no  mention  of  what  these 


24  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

sheets  contained,  but  there  is  much  reason  to 
believe  that  the  manuscript  was  the  first  of 
those  brief  letters  with  which  for  six  months 
Silence  Dogood  amused  the  readers  of  the 
"  Courant." 

The  Dogood  papers  find  no  place  in  any 
of  Franklin's  collected  writings.  They  were 
not  even  ascribed  to  him  till  Mr.  Parton  wrote 
his  biography.  But,  in  the  notes  and  memo 
randa  jotted  down  by  Franklin  when  about  to 
write  the  "  Autobiography,"  he  claims  the  Do- 
good  papers  as  his  own.  They  are  clearly 
Franklin's  work ;  and  so  well  did  the  lad  catch 
the  spirit,  the  peculiar  diction,  the  humor  of  his 
model,  the  "  Spectator,"  that  he  seems  to  have 
written  with  a  copy  of  Addison  open  before 
him.  "  I  have  observed,"  says  the  short-faced 
gentleman  in  the  opening  paragraph  of  the 
first  number  of  the  "  Spectator,"  "  that  a  reader 
seldom  peruses  a  book  with  pleasure  till  he 
knows  whether  the  writer  of  it  be  a  black  or  a 
fair  man,  of  a  mild  or  a  choleric  disposition, 
married  or  a  bachelor,  with  other  peculiarities 
of  a  like  nature  that  conduce  very  much  to  a 
right  understanding  of  an  author."  "As  the 
generality  of  people,"  says  Mrs.  Dogood  in  the 
opening  paragraph  of  the  first  of  her  epistles, 
"  now-a-days  are  unwilling  either  to  commend 
or  dispraise  what  they  read  till  they  are  in 


DOGOOD  PAPERS.  25 

some  manner  informed  who  or  what  the  author 
of  it  is,  whether  he  be  rich  or  poor,  old  or 
young,  a  scholar  or  a  leather-apron  man,  it 
will  not  come  amiss  to  give  some  account  of  my 
past  life."  She  thereupon  proceeds  to  inform 
her  readers  that  she  was  in  youth  an  orphan 
bound  out  apprentice  to  a  country  parson  ;  that 
he  had  carefully  educated  her,  and,  after  many 
vain  attempts  to  get  a  wife  from  among  the 
topping  sort  of  people,  had  married  her.  She 
was  now  his  widow,  but  might  be  persuaded 
to  change  her  state  if  she  could  only  be  sure 
of  getting  a  good-humored,  sober,  agreeable 
man.  Till  then,  she  should  content  herself 
with  the  company  of  her  neighbor  Rusticus 
and  the  town  minister  Clericus,  who  lodged 
with  her,  and  who  would  from  time  to  time 
beautify  her  writings  with  passages  from  the 
learned  tongues.  Such  selections  would  be  both 
ornamental  and  fashionable,  and  to  those  igno 
rant  of  the  classics,  pleasing  in  the  extreme. 
To  please  and  amuse  was  her  purpose.  Her 
themes  therefore  would  be  as  various  as  her 
letters,  for  whoever  would  please  all  must  be 
now  merry  and  diverting,  now  solemn  and 
serious ;  one  while  sharp  and  biting,  then 
sober  and  religious  ;  ready  to  write  now  on  poli 
tics  and  now  on  love.  Thus  would  each 
reader  find  something  agreeable  to  his  fancy, 
and  in  his  turn  be  pleased. 


26  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

True  to  this  plan,  essays,  dreams,  criticisms, 
humorous  letters  came  forth  at  least  once  a 
fortnight,  till  the  Dogood  papers  numbered 
fourteen.  A  talk  with  Clericus  on  academic 
education  produces  a  dream,  in  which  Frank 
lin  gives  vent  to  the  hatred  he  felt  towards 
Harvard  College.  A  wretched  elegy  on  the 
death  of  Mehitabel  Kitel  suggests  a  receipt 
for  a  New  England  funeral  elegy,  and  some 
ridicule  on  that  kind  of  poetry  he  calls  Kitelic. 
Now  his  theme  is  "  Pride  and  Hoop  Petticoats," 
now  "  Nightwalkers,"  now  "  Drunkenness,"  now 
a  plan  for  the  relief  of  those  unhappy  women 
who,  as  a  punishment  for  the  pride  and  insolence 
of  youth,  are  forced  to  remain  old  maids.  One 
week  Silence  sent  an  abstract  from  the  "  Lon 
don  Journal."  The  subject  was  "  Freedom  of 
Thought,"  and,  whether  written  by  Benjamin 
or  really  borrowed  from  the  "  Journal,"  the 
article  had  a  special  meaning ;  for  James 
Franklin  was  at  that  very  time  undergoing 
punishment  for  exercising  freedom  of  thought. 

On  the  twenty-second  of  May,  1722,  a  pirat 
ical  brigantine  with  fifty  men  and  four  swivel 
guns  appeared  off  Block  Island,  took  several 
ships  and  crews,  and  began  depredations  which 
extended  along  the  New  England  coast.  News 
of  the  pirate  was  quickly  sent  to  Governor 
Shute  of  Massachusetts,  and  by  him  trans- 


ARREST  OF  JAMES  FRANKLIN.  27 

mitted  to  the  Council  on  the  seventh  of  June. 
The  next  day  the  House  of  Representatives 
resolved  to  dispatch  Captain  Peter  Papillon  in 
a  vessel,  strongly  armed  and  manned,  in  pur 
suit  of  the  rover;  offered  a  bounty  of  ten 
pounds  for  each  pirate  killed ;  and  decreed  that 
the  ship  and  cargo  of  the  rovers  should  be  the 
property  of  the  captors. 

The  number  of  the  "  Courant "  containing 
the  sixth  of  the  Dogood  papers  announced 
under  "  Boston  News "  that  the  vessel  fitted 
out  by  the  government  would  sail  on  the  elev 
enth  of  June.  But  elsewhere,  in  a  pretended 
letter  from  Newport,  were  these  words  :  "  The 
government  of  the  Massachusetts  are  fitting 
out  a  ship  to  go  after  the  Pirates,  to  be  com 
manded  by  Captain  Peter  Papillon,  and  'tis 
thought  he  will  sail  some  time  this  month  if 
wind  and  weather  permit." 

For  this  piece  of  harmless  fun  the  Council 
summoned  James  Franklin  before  them,  ques 
tioned  him  sharply,  and  voted  the  paragraph 
"  a  high  affront  to  this  Government."  The 
House  of  Representatives  concurred,  and  bade 
the  sheriff,  under  the  speaker's  warrant,  seize 
James  Franklin  and  lodge  him  in  the  stone 
jail.  There  for  a  month  he  languished,  while 
Benjamin  conducted  the  business  of  the  print 
ing-house  and  published  the  "  Courant." 


28  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

With  each  succeeding  issue  the  newspaper 
grew  more  tantalizing,  more  exasperating,  till 
in  January,  1723,  James  Franklin  a  second 
time  felt  the  strong  hand  of  the  law.  The 
real  cause  of  displeasure  was  some  remarks  on 
the  behavior  of  Governor  Shute,  one  of  the 
many  arrant  fools  a  series  of  stupid  English 
kings  sent  over  to  govern  the  colonies.  He 
quarreled  with  the  General  Court  because  it 
would  not  suffer  him  to  approve  or  disapprove 
the  speaker ;  because  it  ventured  to  appoint 
public  fasts  ;  interrupted  its  sessions  by  long 
adjournments ;  suspended  military  officers,  and 
assumed  the  direction  of  Indian  wars ;  and 
when  he  could  contain  himself  no  longer,  he 
suddenly  set  off  for  England.  Of  this  the 
"  Courant  "  had  something  to  say. 

Could  any  one,  it  was  asked,  suppose  that 
the  departure  of  the  governor  for  England 
with  so  much  privacy  and  displeasure  was 
likely  to  promote  the  welfare  of  the  province 
when  he  reached  the  British  court?  Would 
it  not  be  well  to  send  one  or  two  persons  of 
known  abilit}%  and  born  in  the  province,  to  the 
British  court,  there  to  vindicate  the  conduct 
of  the  House  of  Representatives  since  the  late 
misunderstanding?  Ought  the  ministers  to 
pray  for  Samuel  Shute,  Esquire,  as  immediate 
governor,  and  at  the  same  time  for  the  lieu- 


BENJAMIN  EDITS   THE   CO  U RANT.  29 

tenant-governor  as  commander-in-chief  ?  "Was 
not  praying  for  the  success  of  his  voyage,  if,  as 
many  supposed,  he  wished  to  hurt  the  province, 
praying  in  effect  for  the  destruction  of  the  prov 
ince  ?  The  pretended  cause  of  offense  was  an 
essay  on  religious  hypocrisy.  For  publishing 
this,  James  Franklin  was  forbidden  by  the  Gen 
eral  Court  to  "  print  or  publish  the  New  Eng 
land  Courant,  or  any  other  such  pamphlet  or 
paper  of  a  like  nature,  except  it  be  first  super 
vised  by  the  Secretary  of  the  Province." 

In  this  strait  the  printer  called  his  friends 
about  him  for  advice.  Were  the  order  to  be 
obeyed ;  were  James  Franklin  to  go  once  each 
week  to  the  office  of  the  secretary,  show  his 
manuscript,  and  ask  leave  to  publish  a  column 
or  two  of  extracts  from  London  newspapers 
five  months  old,  some  fulsome  praise  of  Gov 
ernor  Shute,  two  or  three  advertisements  for 
the  apprehension  of  runaway  apprentices  and 
as  many  more  for  runaway  slaves,  the  "  Cou 
rant"  would,  they  felt,  fall  at  once  to  the  level 
of  the  "  News  Letter  "  and  the  "  Gazette,"  and 
die  of  dullness  in  a  month.  Change  the  pub 
lisher  and  this  would  be  avoided,  and  the  "  Cou 
rant  "  could  continue  to  be  as  impudent  as  ever, 
for  the  order  applied  to  James  Franklin  and  to 
him  alone.  His  friends  therefore  urged  him  to 
make  the  change  ;  their  advice  was  taken,  and 


30  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

the  "Gazette"  of  February  4th-llth,  1723, 
contains  this  falsehood :  "  The  late  Printer  of 
this  paper,  finding  so  many  Inconveniences 
would  arise  by  his  carrying  the  Manuscript  and 
Public  news  to  be  supervised  by  the  Secretary 
as  to  render  his  carrying  it  on  unprofitable,  has 
entirely  dropt  the  undertaking."  Thenceforth 
the  newspaper  issued  under  Benjamin  Frank 
lin's  name.  The  public  were  assured  the  late 
printer  had  abandoned  the  enterprise  entirely. 
Lest  anyone  should  inquire  into  the  truth  of 
this  statement,  the  old  indenture  was  cancelled 
and  Benjamin  declared  free.  But  the  elder 
brother  had  no  intention  of  freeing  his  appren 
tice,  and  the  cancelled  indenture  was  replaced 
by  a  new  one  which  the  brothers  kept  carefully 
concealed. 

It  was  now  pretended  that  the  "  Courant " 
was  conducted  by  a  "  Club  for  the  Propagation 
of  Sense  and  Good  Manners  among  the  docible 
part  of  Mankind  in  His  Majestys  Plantations 
in  America."  Of  this  club  Dr.  Janus  was  per 
petual  dictator,  and  of  Dr.  Janus  an  account 
was  given  in  a  humorous  "  Preface "  which 
Benjamin  wrote  for  the  first  number  of  the 
"  Courant "  printed  in  his  own  name. 

"  The  Society,"  he  wrote,  had  "  designed  to 
present  the  Public  with  the  effigies  of  Dr. 
Janus ;  but  the  Limner,  to  whom  he  was 


"DR.  JANUS."  31 

presented  for  a  draught  of  his  Countenance 
discried  (and  this  he  is  ready  to  offer  upon 
Oath)  nineteen  features  in  his  face  more  than 
ever  he  beheld  in  any  Human  Visage  before ; 
which  so  raised  the  price  of  his  Picture  that 
our  Master  himself  forbid  the  extravagance  of 
coming  up  to  it.  And  then  besides,  the  Lim 
ner  objected  to  a  Schism  in  his  Face  which  splits 
it  from  his  Forehead  in  a  Straight  line  down  to 
his  chin  in  such  wise  that  Mr.  Painter  protests 
'tis  a  double  face  and  will  have  four  pounds 
for  its  portraiture.  However  tho'  this  double 
face  has  spoilt  us  a  pretty  Picture,  yet  we  all 
rejoice  to  see  old  Janus  in  our  company.  .  .  . 
As  for  his  morals  he  is  a  chearly  Christian  as  the 
Country  Phrase  has  it.  A  man  of  good  temper, 
courteous  Deportment,  sound  Judgement ;  a 
mortal  Hater  of  Nonsense,  Foppery,  Formality 
and  endless  ceremony."  To  him  all  letters  must 
be  addressed,  and  thenceforth  not  a  number  of 
the  "  Courant  "  issues  without  some  pretended 
communication  "  To  the  Venerable  Old  Janus," 
"To  Good  Master  Janus,"  "  To  the  ancient 
and  venerable  Dr.  Janus,"  "  To  Old  Janus  the 
Couranteer."  "The  gentle  reader,"  "the  in 
genuous  and  courteous  reader,"  is  assured  that 
the  "  design  of  the  Club  is  to  contribute  to  the 
diversion  and  Merryment  of  the  town,"  that 
"  pieces  of  pleasantry  and  Mirth  have  a  secret 


32  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

charm  in  them  to  allay  the  heats  and  Tumors 
of  our  Spirits  and  make  us  forget  our  restless 
resentments,  and  that  no  paper  shall  be  suffered 
to  pass  without  a  latin  motto  if  one  can  possi 
bly  be  found.  Such  mottoes  charm  the  Vulgar 
and  give  the  learned  the  pleasure  of  constru 
ing.  Gladly  would  the  Club  add  a  scrap  or 
two  of  Greek ;  but  the  printer,  unhappily  has 
no  type.  The  candid  reader  therefore  will  not 
impute  this  defect  to  ignorance;  for  Docter 
Janus  knows  all  the  Greek  letters  by  heart." 

Under  the  management  of  the  club,  the 
"  Courant "  grew  daily  in  favor.  Each  week 
the  list  of  subscribers  became  longer,  the  bor 
rowers  became  more  numerous,  and  the  adver 
tisements  steadily  increased.  Flushed  with  suc 
cess,  Benjamin  in  a  humorous  notice  informed 
his  readers  that  the  club  had  raised  the  price 
of  the  paper  to  twelve  shillings  a  year.  And 
well  he  might,  for  so  sprightly  and  entertain 
ing  a  newspaper  did  not  exist  anywhere  else 
in  the  colonies.  But  for  this  prosperity  James 
Franklin  was  soon  to  pay  dearly.  The  very 
act  by  which  he  evaded  the  order  of  the  Gen 
eral  Court  placed  him  in  the  power  of  his  ap 
prentice,  and  set  the  lad  an  example  of  dishon 
esty  which  Benjamin  was  quick  to  follow.  From 
the  few  glimpses  we  obtain  of  James  Franklin 
in  the  "  Autobiography  "  of  Benjamin,  he  seems 


LEAVES  BOSTON.  33 

to  have  been  a  man  morose,  ill-tempered, 
doomed  not  to  succeed.  The  "  Junto  "  knew, 
and  he  must  have  known,  that  no  journeyman 
in  his  printing-house  did  such  work,  and  that 
no  contributor  to  the  paper  wrote  such  pieces 
as  his  young  brother.  Had  he  been  a  man  of 
sense  and  judgment,  he  would  undoubtedly  have 
cancelled  the  indentures  in  all  honesty,  given 
the  lad  his  freedom,  and  made  him  a  partner. 
But  he  took  precisely  the  opposite  course. 
The  more  the  apprentice  displayed  his  ability, 
the  more  domineering  became  the  master. 
From  disputes  the  two  proceeded  to  quarrels, 
and  from  quarrels  to  blows.  Then  Benjamin 
turned  to  the  cancelled  indentures  and  declared 
himself  free.  Unable  to  deny  this,  James  went 
among  the  printers  and  persuaded  them  to  re 
fuse  his  brother  work,  and  advertised  in  the 
"  Courant "  for  "  a  likely  lad  for  an  appren 
tice."  Benjamin,  after  selling  a  few  of  his 
books  for  ready  money,  turned  his  back  upon 
Boston  and  ran  away. 

A  packet  sloop  carried  him  to  New  York. 
There  he  sought  out  William  Bradford,  still 
remembered  as  the  man  who  put  up  the  first 
press,  set  the  first  type,  and  printed  the  first 
pamphlet,  in  the  middle  colonies.  Bradford 
could  give  the  boy  no  work,  and  recommended 
him  to  go  on  to  Philadelphia.  He  set  out  ac- 


34  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

cordingly,  was  almost  lost  in  a  storm  in  New 
York  Bay,  landed  at  Perth  Amboy,  and  went 
across  New  Jersey  on  foot. 

There  were  at  that  day  but  two  roads  across 
New  Jersey  between  Philadelphia  and  New 
York.  One,  long  known  as  the  Old  Road,  ran 
out  from  Elizabethtown  Point  to  what  is  now 
New  Brunswick,  thence  in  an  almost  direct  line 
to  the  Delaware  above  Trenton,  and  so  on  to 
Burlington,  where  the  traveler  once  a  week 
took  boat  to  Philadelphia.  But  it  was  long 
after  Franklin's  boyhood  before  the  road  be 
came  anything  better  than  a  bridle-path,  or  be 
fore  a  wagon  of  any  kind  rolled  over  it.  So 
late  as  1716,  when  the  Assembly  fixed  the  ferry 
rate  at  New  Brunswick,  two  tolls  only  were 
established,  one  "  for  horse  and  man,"  and  one 
for  "  single  persons."  Ten  pounds,  raised  each 
year  by  tax  on  the  innkeepers  of  Piscataway, 
Woodbridge,  and  Elizabethtown,  were  thought 
ample  to  keep  the  pathway  in  repair. 

The  favored  road  across  the  province  was 
that  from  Perth  Town  to  Burlington,  on  the 
Delaware,  and  was,  as  early  as  1707,  wide 
enough  for  a  wagon  to  pass  without  scraping 
the  hubs  on  the  trees.  In  that  year  the  Assem 
bly  complained  as  a  great  evil  that  a  patent 
had  been  given  to  several  persons  to  carry 
goods  by  wagon  over  the  Amboy  road  to  the 


REACHES  PHILADELPHIA.  35 

exclusion  of  the  Old  Road.  But  the  governor 
reminded  the  grumblers  that  by  this  means  a 
trade  had  grown  up  between  Philadelphia,  Bur 
lington,  Perth  Town,  and  New  York  such  as 
had  never  before  existed. 

Notwithstanding  this  travel,  the  road  when 
Franklin  used  it  ran  for  miles  through  an  unin 
habited  country.  The  almanacs,  which  were 
the  road-books  of  that  day,  make  mention  of 
but  four  places  where  a  traveler  could  find  rest 
and  refreshment.  One  was  at  Cranberry 
Brook ;  another  was  at  Allentown,  a  place  nine 
years  old.  A  third  was  at  Cross  wick  Bridge  ; 
and  the  fourth  at  Dr.  Brown's,  eight  miles  from 
Burlington,  and  here  Benjamin  slept  on  the 
night  of  his  second  day  from  Arnboy. 

Early  the  next  morning  he  was  at  Burling 
ton,  where  he  once  more  took  boat,  slept  that 
night  in  the  fields,  and  early  one  Sunday  morn 
ing  in  October,  1723,  entered  Philadelphia. 
For  a  while  he  wandered  about  the  streets,  but 
falling  in  with  a  number  of  Quakers,  followed 
them  to  meeting  and  there  fell  asleep.  It  was 
well  that  he  did,  for  had  the  constable  met  him 
sauntering  around  the  town,  Benjamin  would 
have  been  placed  in  the  lockup. 


CHAPTER  II. 

1723-1729. 

THE  prospect  that  lay  before  Benjamin,  when, 
the  fatigue  of  the  journey  slept  off,  he  went 
forth  in  search  of  work,  was  poor  indeed.  All 
the  printing  done  in  Pennsylvania  was  done  on 
the  press  of  Andrew  Bradford  ;  and  all  the 
printing  Bradford  did  in  a  year  could,  in  our 
time,  be  done  in  one  hour.  From  his  press 
came  the  "  American  Weekly  Mercury,"  the 
contents  of  which  would  not  fill  a  column  and 
a  half  of  such  a  daily  newspaper  as  the  "  Bos 
ton  Traveller"  or  the  "Philadelphia  Press." 
Never  in  any  one  year  did  all  the  tracts,  all 
the  sermons,  all  the  almanacs,  all  the  appeals, 
catechisms,  and  proposals  published  in  Penn 
sylvania  number  thirty-nine.  Nor  did  the 
largest  book  yet  printed  contain  three  hundred 
small  octavo  pages.  Indeed,  forty-seven  years 
had  not  gone  since  William  Bradford  began 
the  list  of  Middle  Colony  publications  with 
Atkins's  "  Kalendarium  Pennsilvaniense,  being 
an  Almanac  for  the  year  of  Grace  1686." 


PRINTING  IN  PENNSYLVANIA.  37 

William  Bradford  was  then  a  lad  of  two-and- 
twenty,  who  had  been  brought  up  to  set  type 
and  work  a  press  in  the  shop  of  Andrew  Sowle, 
a  famous  London  printer  of  Friends'  books. 
His  relations  with  Sowle,  first  as  apprentice  and 
then  as  son-in-law,  brought  him  often  to  the 
notice  of  William  Penn.  Anxious  to  secure  a 
good  printer  for  his  province,  Penn  made  an 
offer  to  Bradford  to  go  to  Pennsylvania  and 
print  the  laws  :  the  offer  was  accepted,  and  in 
the  summer  of  1685  the  young  printer  landed 
at  Philadelphia  with  types,  a  press,  and  three 
letters  from  George  Fox. 

On  the  day  he  landed  there  were  but  two 
printing-presses  in  the  whole  of  British  North 
America.  Evidence  exists  that  there  was,  for 
a  while,  a  third ;  that  in  1682  one  John  Buck- 
ner  published  the  Virginia  laws  of  1680  ;  that 
he  was  promptly  summoned  before  the  gov 
ernor  and  council,  censured,  and  forbidden  to 
print  again  till  the  king's  will  was  known  ;  and 
that  for  forty-seven  years  not  another  type 
was  set  in  the  Old  Dominion.  With  the  single 
exception  of  the  Virginia  laws  of  1680,  not  a 
piece  of  printing  had  been  done  out  of  Cam 
bridge,  Massachusetts,  when  early  in  December, 
1685,  Bradford  issued  the  "  Kalendarium  Penn- 
silvaniense,"  and  introduced  "the  great  art  and 
mystery  of  printing"  into  the  Middle  Colonies. 


38  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN 

"  Some  Irregularities,"  said  he  in  his  address  to 
the  readers,  "  there  be  in  this  Diary,  which  I 
desire  you  to  pass  by  this  year  ;  for  being  lately 
come  hither,  my  Materials  were  Misplaced  and 
out  of  order."  But  the  advance  sheet  had 
no  sooner  been  seen  by  Secretary  Markham 
than  he  detected  one  irregularity  for  which 
neither  the  recent  arrival  nor  the  disordered 
fonts  could  atone.  "In  the  Chronology," 
Markham  informed  the  council,  "  of  the  Al 
manack  sett  forth  by  Samuel  Atkins  of  Phila 
delphia  and  by  William  Bradford  of  the  same 
place,  are  the  words  'the  beginning  of  Gov 
ernment  by  ye  Lord  Penn.'  "  Thereupon  the 
council  sent  for  Atkins  and  bade  him  "blott 
out  ye  words  Lord  Penn ; "  and  to  "  Will 
Bradford,  ye  printer,  gave  Charge  not  to  print 
anything  but  what  shall  have  lycense  from  ye 
Council."  Atkins  obeyed,  and  in  the  only 
copies  of  "  Kalendarium  "  now  extant  the  hated 
words  are  blotted  out. 

With  this  the  struggle  for  the  liberty  of  the 
press  began  in  Pennsylvania.  Twice  was 
Bradford  called  before  the  governor ;  thrice 
was  he  censured  by  the  meeting  ;  once  was  he 
put  under  heavy  bonds,  and  once  thrown  into 
jail,  before  he  gathered  his  type,  and  in  1693 
fastened  his  notice  of  removal  on  the  court 
house  door  and  set  out  for  New  York.  Dur- 


PRINTING  IN  PENNSYLVANIA.  39 

ing  the  six  years  that  followed  his  departure 
not  a  type  was  set  in  Pennsylvania.  Then  the 
Friends  brought  out  a  press  from  London,  put 
it  under  the  censorship  of  a  committee,  and 
rented  it  to  Reynier  Jansen.  Jansen  died 
in  1705,  and  the  press  passed  in  turn  to  Tibe 
rius  Johnson,  to  Joseph  Reyners,  to  Jacob 
Taylor,  in  whose  hands  it  was  when,  in  1712, 
William  Bradford  established  his  son  Andrew 
as  a  printer  at  Philadelphia. 

For  ten  years  Andrew  Bradford  continued  to 
print  almanacs  and  laws,  religious  tracts  and 
political  pamphlets,  without  a  rival.  But  on  the 
October  morning,  1723,  when  Franklin  passed 
under  the  sign  of  the  Bible,  entered  the  shop  of 
Bradford  and  asked  for  work,  Samuel  Keimer,  a 
rival  printer,  had  set  up  in  the  town.  Bradford 
had  nothing  for  the  lad  to  do,  but  gave  him  a 
home  and  sent  him  to  Keimer,  by  whom  he  was 
soon  employed.  During  a  few  months  all  went 
well,  and  Franklin  spent  his  time  courting, 
printing,  and  making  friends.  Among  these 
was  William  Keith,  who  governed  Pennsyl 
vania  for  the  children  of  Penn. 

Keith  affected  great  interest  in  the  boy,  and 
sent  him  to  Boston  with  a  letter  urging  Josiah 
to  fit  out  the  son  as  a  master  printer.  Josiah 
refused,  and  Benjamin  came  back  to  Keith,  who 
now  dispatched  him  on  a  fool's  errand  to  Lon- 


40  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

don.  He  sailed  with  the  belief  that  he  was  to 
have  letters  of  introduction  and  letters  of 
credit,  that  he  was  to  buy  types,  paper,  and  a 
press,  and  return  to  America  a  master  printer. 
He  reached  London  to  find  Keith  a  knave  and 
himself  a  dupe. 

Homeless,  friendless,  and  with  but  fifteen 
pistoles  in  his  pocket,  he  now  walked  the 
streets  of  London  in  search  of  work.  This  he 
found  at  a  great  printing-house  in  Bartholomew 
Close,  and  for  a  year  toiled  as  compositor, 
earning  good  wages  and  squandering  them  on 
idle  companions,  lewd  women,  treats  and 
shows. 

As  he  stood  at  the  case  it  fell  to  his  lot  to 
set  type  for  Wollaston's  "  Religion  of  Nature 
Delineated."  No  better  specimen  exists  of  the 
theological  writings  of  that  day.  It  was  the 
forerunner  of  Butler's  "  Analogy  "  and  Paley's 
"  Natural  Theology."  It  was  an  attempt  to 
prove  that,  had  the  Bible  never  been  written, 
there  would  still  be  found  in  the  natural  world 
around  us  manifest  reasons  for  being  regular  at 
church,  for  believing  the  soul  to  be  immortal, 
for  not  doing  any  of  the  innumerable  things 
the  ten  commandments  forbid.  As  he  com 
posed  the  book,  Franklin  despised  it,  and  soon 
began  to  write  a  little  pamphlet  of  his  own  in 
refutation.  The  pamphlet  he  called  "  A  Dis- 


THE  LONDON  PAMPHLET.  41 

sertation  on  Liberty  and  Necessity,  Pleasure 
and  Pain."  But  when  he  had  printed  a  hun 
dred  copies  and  given  a  few  away,  he  grew 
ashamed  of  his  own  work,  and  so  thoroughly 
suppressed  it  that  but  two  copies  of  the  origi 
nal  edition  are  now  known  to  be  extant.  Were 
none  in  existence  the  loss  would  be  trivial,  for 
the  pamphlet  adds  nothing  to  his  just  fame. 

The  pamphlet  he  divided  in  the  true  theolog 
ical  manner  into  two  sections.  One  he  called 
"  Liberty  and  Necessity,"  and  the  other  "  Pleas 
ure  and  Pain."  "  There  is,"  said  he,  "  a  first 
Mover  called  God,  the  maker  of  all  things. 
God  is  said  to  be  all-wise,  all-powerful,  all- 
good.  If  he  is  all-wise,  then  whatever  he  does 
must  be  wise.  If  he  is  all-good,  then  whatever 
he  does  must  be  good.  If  he  is  all-powerful, 
then  nothing  can  exist  against  his  will ;  and  as 
nothing  can  exist  against  his  will,  and,  being 
all-good,  he  can  will  nothing  but  good,  it  fol 
lows  that  nothing  but  good  can  exist.  There 
fore  evil  does  not  exist.  Again,  if  a  creature 
is  made  by  God,  it  must  depend  on  God,  and 
get  its  powers  from  him,  and  act  always  accord 
ing  to  his  will,  because  he  is  all-powerful.  But, 
being  all-good,  his  will  is  always  for  good,  and 
the  creature,  being  forced  to  obey  it,  can  do 
nothing  but  what  is  good;  and  therefore  evil 
does  not  exist.  The  creature,  once  more,  being 


42  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

thus  limited  in  its  actions,  being  able  to  do  only 
such  things  as  God  wills,  can  have  no  free  will, 
liberty,  or  power  to  refrain  from  an  action. 
But  if  there  is  no  such  thing  as  free  will  in 
creatures,  there  can  be  neither  merit  nor  de 
merit  in  their  actions ;  therefore  every  creature 
must  be  equally  esteemed  by  God." 

This  much  settled,  Franklin  proceeds  to  the 
second  part,  on  Pleasure  and  Pain.  "  Every 
creature,"  says  he,  "  is  capable  of  feeling  un 
easiness  or  pain.  This  pain  produces  desire  to 
be  freed  from  it  in  exact  proportion  to  itself. 
The  accomplishment  of  the  desire  produces  an 
equal  amount  of  pleasure.  Pleasure  therefore 
is  equal  to  Pain.  From  all  this  it  follows  that 
Pleasure  and  Pain  are  inseparable  and  equal ; 
that,  being  inseparable,  no  state  of  life  can  be 
happier  than  the  present ;  that,  being  equal 
and  contrary,  they  destroy  each  other,  and  that 
life  therefore  cannot  be  better  than  insensibility, 
for  a  creature  that  has  ten  degrees  of  pleasure 
taken  from  ten  degrees  of  pain  has  nothing  left, 
and  is  on  an  equality  with  a  creature  insensible 
to  both." 

The  gist  of  his  pamphlet  may  be  briefly 
stated  to  be  this  :  There  are  no  future  rewards 
and  punishments,  because  all  things  and  crea 
tures  are  equally  good  and  equally  esteemed  by 
God.  There  is  no  reason  to  believe  that  a  fu- 


THE  LONDON  PAMPHLET.  43 

ture  life  can  be  happier  than  the  present.  There 
is  no  reason  to  believe  in  a  future  life.  There 
is  no  reason  to  believe  that  man  is  any  better 
than  the  brutes.  There  is  no  religion.  Dr. 
Wollaston  had  declared,  "  The  foundation  of 
religion  lies  in  that  difference  between  the  acts 
of  men  which  distinguishes  them  into  good, 
evil,  indifferent."  To  prove  that  no  such  differ 
ence  existed  was  the  purpose  of  Franklin's 
essay. 

Though  the  essay  proved  nothing,  it  brought 
him  friends.  Limited  as  the  circulation  was,  a 
copy  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  once  famous  au 
thor  of  "  The  Infallibility  of  Human  Judgment." 
He  admired  the  pamphlet,  sought  out  Franklin 
and  brought  him  to  a  club  of  skeptics  that 
gathered  nightly  at  "  The  Horns."  There  he 
met  Bernard  de  Mandeville,  who  wrote  "  The 
Fable  of  the  Bees,"  and  Henry  Pemberton,  who 
still  has  a  place  in  biographical  dictionaries. 
Pemberton  promised  to  introduce  the  lad  to 
Isaac  Newton,  but  the  opportunity  never  served. 

Irreligious,  lewd,  saving  to  very  meanness, 
yet  a  spendthrift  and  a  waste-all,  the  boy  had 
now  reached  a  crisis  in  his  career.  Ashamed  of 
himself  and  of  his  life,  a  feeling  of  unrest  took 
possession  of  him.  In  hopes  of  making  better 
wages,  he  quit  the  printing-house  in  Bartholo 
mew  Close,  and  found  employment  at  another 


44  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

near  Lincoln's  Inn  Fields.  Yet  even  this  did 
not  satisfy,  and  for  one  while  he  thought  of  set 
ting  up  a  swimming-school,  and  for  another,  of 
wandering  over  Europe  supporting  himself  by 
his  trade.  From  both  of  these  follies  he  was 
saved  by  one  Denman.  Denman  had  once 
been  a  Bristol  merchant ;  had  failed,  and  emi 
grated  to  America  ;  had  retrieved  his  fortunes, 
and,  to  pay  his  debts,  had  gone  back  to  Eng 
land  on  the  same  ship  with  Franklin.  It  is  cer 
tain  that  on  one  occasion  Benjamin  went  to 
Denman  for  advice,  and  it  is  not  unlikely  that 
he  now  went  again.  However  this  may  be, 
Denman  gave  him  a  clerkship,  took  him  back 
to  Philadelphia,  and  placed  him  in  a  shop. 
There,  at  twenty,  the  lad  began  to  keep  books, 
sell  goods,  learn  the  secrets  of  mercantile  af 
fairs,  and  was  fast  becoming  a  merchant,  when 
his  employer  died,  and  he  was  forced  to  earn  his 
bread  as  foreman  of  Keimer's  establishment. 

His  duty  at  Keimer's  was  to  reduce  chaos  to 
order,  to  mix  ink,  cast  type,  mend  the  presses, 
make  cuts  for  the  New  Jersey  paper-money  bills, 
bind  books,  and  watch  the  movements  of  the 
two  redemptioners  and  three  apprentices  who 
served  as  compositors,  pressmen,  and  devils.  It 
was  at  this  time  that  Benjamin  founded  the 
Junto,  wrote  his  famous  epitaph,  grew  reli 
gious,  composed  a  liturgy  for  his  own  use,  and 


QUARRELS  WITH  KEIMER.         45 

became  the  father  of  an  illegitimate  son.  The 
name  of  the  mother  most  happily  is  not  known  ; 
but  as  the  law  of  bastardy  was  then  rigidly  en 
forced  against  the  woman  and  not  against  the 
man,  she  was,  in  all  likelihood,  one  of  that 
throng  who  received  their  lashes  in  the  market 
place  and  filled  the  records  of  council  with 
prayers  for  the  remission  of  fines. 

With  Keimer,  Franklin  stayed  but  a  little 
while.  The  two  quarreled,  parted,  made  up, 
and  again  separated,  this  time  amicably,  Keimer 
to  go  to  destruction,  Franklin  to  found  a  new 
printing-house  and  begin  his  great  career.  One 
of  the  three  apprentices  who  stitched  pamphlets 
and  inked  type  was  Hugh  Meredith.  This  lad 
was  country-bred,  idle,  cursed,  with  an  incura 
ble  longing  for  drink,  and  blessed  with  a  father 
who  for  that  day  was  more  than  well-to-do. 
Over  the  son,  Franklin  had  great  influence, 
had  persuaded  him  to  keep  sober  and  be  indus 
trious,  and  the  reward  for  these  good  deeds  was 
now  at  hand.  In  one  of  the  darkest  hours  of 
his  life,  when  he  had  left  Keimer  in  a  passion, 
when  Bradford  could  give  him  no  work,  when 
he  thought  seriously  of  wandering  back  to  his 
father's  house,  Meredith  visited  him  and  pro 
posed  a  partnership.  The  proposition  was 
gladly  accepted,  the  father  of  Meredith  found 
the  money,  an  order  was  sent  to  London  for 


46  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

\   types  and  a  press,  and  in  the  spring  of  1728 
•'  the  firm  of  Franklin  &  Meredith  began  busi 
ness   at   "The   New  Printing-Office    in   High 
Street,  near  the  Market." 

Their  first  job  was  a  hand-bill  for  a  country 
man.  Their  next  was  forty  sheets  of  "  The 
History  of  the  Rise,  Increase,  and  Progress  of 
the  Christian  People  called  Quakers;  Inter 
mixed  with  Several  Remarkable  Occurrences. 
Written  originally  in  Low  Dutch  and  also 
translated  into  English,  by  William  Sewel." 
A  few  copies  having  found  their  way  to  Amer 
ica,  the  Philadelphia  meeting  asked  Bradford 
to  reprint  the  book.  Bradford  cunningly  asked 
time  to  consider,  arranged  with  his  aunt  Tacy 
Sowle,  the  English  publisher,  for  seven  hundred 
copies,  and  then  declined  the  proposition.  The 
Friends  thereupon  turned  to  Keimer,  who  began 
the  printing  in  1725.  But  so  great  was  the 
undertaking,  and  so  ill  was  he  equipped,  that 
1728  came  and  the  history  was  not  published. 
Nor  would  it  have  been  in  that  year  had  not 
the  last  forty  sheets  and  the  index  been  sent  to 
Franklin.  We  are  told  in  the  "Autobiography  " 
that  Breintnal  procured  them  from  the  Qua 
kers,  but  this  is  a  mistake.  They  were  sent  by 
/  Keimer  at  the  very  time  Franklin  was  roundly 
abusing  him  in  the  "  Weekly  Mercury." 

Franklin  next  turned  his  attention  to  Brad- 


RUN] 


UNJV1 
THE  NEW  PRINTING-0?.FICE> 


ford,  to  whom  he  had  once  been  indebted  for 
food  and  a  home.  Bradford  was  printer  to  the 
province,  and  in  the  gains  of  this  post  the  new 
firm  determined  to  share.  When,  therefore, 
the  address  of  the  governor  issued,  Franklin 
obtained  a  copy,  printed  it  in  much  better 
form,  laid  a  copy  on  the  seat  of  each  member 
of  the  Assembly,  and  thenceforth  the  public 
printing  was  his.  Bradford  was  also  printer 
of  the  "  Weekly  Mercury." 

The  "  Mercury "  was  the  only  newspaper 
then  published  out  of  New  England ;  was  dull, 
but  circulated  from  New  York  to  Virginia,  and 
paid  well.  As  the  new  printing  -  office  had 
little  to  do,  Franklin  determined  to  start  a 
newspaper  of  his  own,  make  it  instructive  and 
amusing,  and  share  some  of  the  profit  Bradford 
alone  enjoyed. 

In  an  evil  moment,  however,  he  told  his  plan 
to  George  Webb,  a  foolish  youth  who  had  lately 
been  an  indentured  servant  of  Keimer.  The 
wretch  hurried  with  the  news  to  his  former 
master,  who  took  the  hint,  forestalled  Franklin, 
and  on  December  28,  1728,  issued  number  one 
of  "  The  Universal  Instructor  in  all  Arts  and 
Sciences  and  Pennsylvania  Gazette."  To  have 
made  a  duller  journal  than  Bradford's  would 
have  been  impossible.  It  is  small  praise,  there 
fore,  to  say  that  Keimer's  "  Universal  In- 


48  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

structor  "  was  by  far  the  better  of  the  two.  No 
one  who  reads  the  "  Mercury  "  will  ever  accuse 
Bradford  of  attempting  anything  but  money- 
making  with  the  least  possible  exertion.  Keimer 
undoubtedly  was  just  as  eager  to  make  money ; 
but,  to  do  him  justice,  he  strove  at  the  same 
time  to  amuse  and  instruct,  and,  clumsy  as  his 
efforts  were,  they  were  laudable.  To  afford 
instruction,  he  began  the  republication  of  Cham- 
bers's  "  Universal  Dictionary  of  all  the  Arts  and 
Sciences,"  and  started  boldly  with  the  letter  A. 
To  afford  amusement,  a  like  use  was  made  of 
"  The  Religious  Courtship  "  of  De  Foe,  and  of 
some  sketches  of  English  life  furnished  by 
Webb.  Did  Keimer  expect  to  finish  this  task, 
he  must  have  looked  forward  to  a  long  life  for 
the  newspaper  and  himself.  If  so,  he  was 
doomed  to  disappointment,  for,  when  the  for 
tieth  number  issued,  the  "  Universal  Instructor  " 
had  passed  into  Franklin's  hands. 

The  means  taken  to  get  the  newspaper  are 
characteristic  of  his  patience  and  his  cunning. 
Enraged  at  the  duplicity  of  Keimer,  he  deter 
mined  that  the  town  should  give  this  new  ven 
ture  no  support.  Having  passed  his  apprentice 
ship  in  the  midst  of  one  newspaper  controversy, 
he  knew  that  nothing  lasting  is  ever  gained 
by  calling  hard  names  and  indulging  in  vile 
abuse ;  that  if  men  came  to  the  tavern  to  read 


"THE  BUSYBODY."  49 

the  "  Instructor,"  or  cancelled  their  subscrip 
tions  at  the  sign  of  the  Bible,  it  was  because 
they  liked  the  "Instructor"  better  than  the 
"  Mercury ; "  and  that  the  way  to  bring  back 
both  readers  and  subscribers  to  the  "  Mercury  " 
was  not  to  abuse  what  they  liked,  but  to  give 
them  something  they  were  sure  to  like  better. 
Reasoning  thus,  Franklin  began  in  the  "  Mer 
cury  "  a  long  series  of  essays  subscribed  "  The  J 
Busybody." 

The  first  paper  is  taken  up  with  some  ac 
count  of  "  The  Busybody"  and  his  purpose.  He 
is  simply  Mrs.  Dogood  in  man's  clothes.  He 
has  seen  with  concern  the  growing  vices  and 
follies  of  his  countryfolk.  Reformation  of 
these  evils  ought  to  be  the  concern  of  every 
body  ;  but  what  is  everybody's  business  is  no 
body's  business,  and  the  business  is  done  accord 
ingly.  The  Busybody  has  therefore  seen  fit  to 
take  this  nobody's  business  wholly  into  his  own 
hands,  and  become  a  kind  of  censuror  morum. 
Sometimes  he  will  deliver  lectures  on  morality 
or  philosophy  ;  sometimes  talk  on  politics ; 
sometimes,  when  he  has  nothing  of  his  own  of 
consequence  to  say,  he  will  make  use  of  a  well- 
known  extract  from  a  good  book,  for  it  is  the  \. 
lack  of  good  books  that  has  made  good  conver-  • 
sation  so  scarce. 

The   second  paper  is   against  the  tribe  of 


50  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

laughers, — gentlemen  who  will  give  themselves 
an  hour's  diversion  with  the  cock  of  a  man's 
hat,  or  the  heels  of  his  shoes,  or  some  word 
dropped  unguardedly  in  talk  ;  who  write  satires 
to  carry  about  in  their  pockets,  and  read  in  all 
company  they  happen  to  be  in ;  who  think  a 
pun  is  wit,  and  judge  of  the  strength  of  argu 
ments  by  the  strength  of  the  lungs.  In  the 
third  was  a  portrait  of  Cretico,  which  Keimer 
mistook  for  himself,  and  sought  revenge  in  ridi 
culing  the  Busybody,  and  printing  a  small 
tract  called  "  A  Touch  of  the  Times.  Phila. : 
printed  at  the  New  Printing-Office. " 

Gibes  Franklin  could  stand,  but  that  such  a 
piece  of  typography  should  be  thought  to  come 
from  his  press  was  too  much  for  him,  and  in 
the  "  Mercury  "  of  April  24,  1729,  denied  the 
imprint.  "  This,"  said  he,  "  may  inform  those 
that  have  been  induc'd  to  think  otherwise,  that 
the  silly  paper  call'd  '  A  Touch  of  the  Times,' 
&c.,  was  wrote,  printed  and  published  by  Mr. 
Keimer  ;  and  that  his  putting  the  words  '  New 
Printing-Office  '  at  the  bottom,  and  instructing 
the  hawkers  to  say  it  was  done  there,  is  an 
abuse."  The  new  printing-office,  however,  did 
put  forth  a  pamphlet  entitled  "A  Short  Dis 
course,  Proving  that  the  Jewish  or  Seventh- 
Day  Sabbath  Is  Abrogated  and  Repealed." 
And  this  pamphlet,  there  is  reason  to  believe, 


"THE  BUSYBODY."  51 

was  prepared  by  Franklin  in  ridicule  of  Kei- 
mer,  who  wore  the  long  beard,  and  kept  the 
Jewish  Sabbath  with  great  strictness. 

In  the  fourth  Busybody  he  pretends  to  have 
had  a  letter  begging  him  to  pass  some  stric 
tures  on  making  long  and  frequent  visits.  The 
fifth  he  designed  to  be  a  terror  to  evil-doers. 
He  has  made  a  league  with  a  person  having 
the  power  of  second  sight,  and  is  ready  to  show 
up  those  little  crimes  and  vices  for  which  the 
law  has  neither  remedy  nor  regard,  as  well  as 
those  great  pieces  of  sacred  villainy  so  craftily 
done  and  circumspectly  guarded  that  the  law 
cannot  take  hold. 

This  in  turn  brings  a  letter  from  Titan  Pleia 
des,  astrologer.  Titan  has  read  Michael  Scott, 
Albertus  Magnus,  and  Cornelius  Agrippa  above 
three  hundred  times,  in  search  of  that  wisdom 
which  will  lay  before  him  the  chests  of  gold 
and  sacks  of  money  the  pirates  have  hidden 
underground.  He  has  searched  in  vain,  but 
doubts  not  that  if  the  "  Busybody,"  the  second- 
sighted  correspondent,  and  himself  were  joined, 
they  would  soon  be  three  of  the  richest  men  in 
the  province. 

Titan  was  no  imaginary  character.  One 
hundred  and  sixty  years  ago  the  belief  in  the 
existence  of  hidden  treasure  was  common,  and 
the  belief  unquestionably  was  well  founded. 


52  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

Some  had  been  buried  by  misers,  some  by 
thieves,  and  not  a  little  by  men  who,  having 
neither  stocks  in  which  to  invest  nor  banks  in 
which  to  deposit,  hid  their  savings  in  the 
earth,  and  dying,  their  secret  died  with  them. 
Even  now,  pots  of  such  treasure  are  at  times 
turned  up  by  the  plow.  But  in  Franklin's  time 
men  were  confident  they  could  be  detected 
by  the  divining-rod  and  the  stars.  In  every 
colony  were  sharpers  who  for  a  few  shillings 
would  furnish  charms  to  lay  the  guardian  spirit 
and  name  the  auspicious  night,  and  dupes  ever 
ready  to  give  the  shillings  and  make  the  at 
tempt.  Day  after  day  they  would  wander 
through  the  woods  watching  the  flight  of  birds, 
scrutinizing  the  tracks  of  animals,  turning  over 
bowlders,  and  examining  the  roots  of  trees. 
The  spot  discovered,  they  would,  when  the 
proper  planets  were  in  conjunction  and  the 
moon  was  dark,  hurry  away  with  spade  and 
pick,  toads  and  black-cats'  fur,  and,  muttering 
charms,  panting  with  fatigue  and  trembling 
with  fear,  dig  for  hours.  If  the  east  grew  light 
before  a  chest  crammed  with  pistoles  or  a  pot 
heavy  with  pieces-of-eight  lay  before  them, 
they  would  creep  home  dejected  but  not  cured. 
The  circle  perhaps  had  not  been  truly  drawn, 
the  charm  had  not  been  correctly  said,  a  cloud 
maybe  had  cut  off  the  light  of  some  auspicious 


" THE  BUSYBODY."  53 

star.  "  This  odd  humor  of  digging  for  money, 
through  a  belief  that  much  has  been  hid  by 
pirates,"  the  Busybody  himself  declared,  was 
"  mighty  prevalent,  insomuch  that  you  can 
hardly  walk  half  a  mile  out  of  town  on  any  side 
without  observing  several  pits  dug  with  that 
design,  and  perhaps  some  lately  opened." 

After  this  essay  Franklin  contributed  no 
more  to  the  series.  Of  the  thirty-two  papers 
comprising  "  The  Busybody,"  six  are  commonly 
ascribed  to  him,  and  the  majority  of  the  twenty- 
six  to  Joseph  Breintnal.  When  the  latter 
stopped  writing,  the  purpose  for  which  they 
were  begun  had  been  accomplished.  Keimer, 
overwhelmed  by  disaster,  was  on  his  way  to 
the  Barbadoes.  His  printing-house  was  in  the 
hands  of  David  Harry;  his  newspaper  was  the 
property  of  Franklin.  The  whole  town  was 
reading  the  "  Mercury,"  and  forgetting  that  the 
"  Instructor  "  existed.  Much  the  same  fate  has 
overtaken  "  The  Busybody."  Franklin's  six 
contributions  are  reprinted,  and  occasionally 
read.  Breintnal's  essays  have  never  been  col 
lected,  nor  is  there  now  living  more  than  one 
man  who  has  ever  read  them  through. 

To  liken  the  essays  of  Franklin  at  this  period 
of  his  life  to  those  of  Addison  would  be  absurd  ; 
yet  it  cannot  be  denied  that  they  possess  merits 
of  a  rare  and  high  order.  He  makes  no  dis- 


54  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

play  of  ornamentation  ;  he  indulges  in  no  silly 
flights  of  imagination  ;  he  assumes  no  air  of 
learning  ;  he  uses  no  figures  of  speech  save  those 
the  most  ignorant  of  mankind  are  constantly 
using  unconsciously;  he  is  free  from  everything 
that  commonly  defaces  the  writings  of  young 
men.  Dealing  with  nothing  but  the  most 
homely  matters,  he  says  what  he  has  to  say 
easily,  simply,  and  in  a  pure  English  idiom.  No 
man  ever  read  a  sentence  of  Franklin's  essays 
and  doubted  what  it  meant.  It  is  this  simplic 
ity  and  homeliness,  joined  to  hard  common  sense 
and  wit,  that  gave  his  later  writings  a  popular 
ity  and  influence  beyond  those  of  any  American 
author  since  his  day.  If  he  has  a  bad  habit  or 
a  silly  custom  or  a  small  vice  to  condemn,  he 
begins  by  presenting  us  with  a  picture  of  it 
which  we  recognize  at  once.  Then,  with  the 
picture  full  before  us,  he  draws  just  the  moral 
or  passes  the  very  censure  we  would  do  if  left 
to  ourselves.  Not  a  tavern-keeper  but  had 
seen  Ridentius  and  his  followers  round  the  fire 
place  many  a  time.  Not  a  merchant  but  knew 
a  Cato  and  a  Cretico.  Not  a  shopkeeper  but 
had  suffered  just  such  annoyances  as  Patience. 
With  "  Busybody  "  number  eight,  Franklin 
abandoned  essay-writing  to  his  friend,  and  all  his 
time  and  ability  were  given  to  persuading  the 
people  on  a  serious  question  in  which  they  and 


PAPER  MONEY.  55 

he  were  deeply  concerned.  It  was,  indeed,  the 
question  of  the  hour,  and  on  its  decision  hung 
the  financial  and  commercial  prosperity  of  the 
province. 

Six  years  before,  the  people  of  Pennsylvania 
had,  with  much  trepidation,  ventured  on  the 
issue  of  a  small  bank  of  paper  money  :  the  day 
for  its  redemption  was  drawing  near,  the  Lords 
of  Trade  had  forbidden  the  issue  of  any  more, 
and  it  seemed  not  unlikely  that,  in  a  little 
while,  men  would  again  be  bartering  hats  for 
potatoes  and  flour  for  shoes  because  of  the  lack 
of  a  medium  of  exchange. 

The  earliest  of  the  many  issues  of  paper 
money  in  what  is  now  the  United  States  took 
place  when  the  French  and  English  were  deeply 
engaged  in  their  first  struggle  for  the  possession 
of  Canada.  James  had  just  been  driven  from 
his  throne.  William  and  Mary  had  just  suc 
ceeded,  and  the  colonies,  with  every  manifesta 
tion  of  delight,  had  taken  up  arms  in  defense 
of  the  authority  of  William,  the  Protestant  reli 
gion,  and  the  right  to  catch  cod  off  the  Grand 
Banks.  For  a  while  the  war  was  waged  with 
varying  success.  The  English  devastated  the 
island  of  Montreal,  and  the  French  retreated 
from  Frontenac.  Then  the  tide  turned :  the 
French  rallied,  took  Pemaquid,  drove  the  Eng 
lish  from  every  settlement  east  of  Falmouth, 


56  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

burned  Salmon  Falls,  and  laid  Schenectady  in 
ashes.  Driven  to  extremity?  the  English  ral 
lied,  and  in  a  congress  at  New  York  in  1690 
resolved  on  the  conquest  of  Canada.  New 
York  and  Connecticut  were  to  send  a  land 
force  against  Montreal.  Massachusetts  and  Ply 
mouth  sent  a  fleet  against  Quebec.  Acadia  fell, 
Port  Royal  surrendered,  and  New  England 
ruled  the  coast  to  the  eastern  end  of  Nova 
Scotia.  There  success  stopped.  The  command 
ers  of  the  English  troops  fell  to  quarreling,  and 
the  land  expedition  failed  miserably.  Fronte- 
nac,  having  no  foe  to  oppose  him,  hurried  to 
Quebec,  and  entered  the  city  just  as  the  New 
England  fleet  came  sounding  its  way  up  the 
St.  Lawrence.  The  summons  to  surrender  the 
city  was  received  with  jeers.  The  fleet,  unable 
to  take  Quebec  without  the  aid  of  the  army, 
sailed  for  Boston,  to  be  scattered  by  storms 
along  the  coast.  To  commemorate  this  signal 
deliverance  the  French  put  up  the  Church  of 
our  Lady  of  Victory.  To  pay  the  cost  of  the 
expedition  Massachusetts  issued  the  first  colo 
nial  paper  money.  In  1703  South  Carolina  fol 
lowed  her  example. 

Scarcely  had  King  William's  war  ended  than 
Queen  Anne's  war  broke  out.  Again  the 
French  and  Indians  came  down  from  Canada, 
and,  while  Franklin  was  a  child,  laid  waste  the 


PAPER  MONEY.  57 

towns  of  Massachusetts  with  fire  and  sword. 
Again  the  colonies  sent  ships  and  troops  against 
Canada.  Again  they  failed,  and,  to  pay  the 
cost,  New  Hampshire,  Connecticut,  Rhode  Is 
land,  New  York,  and  New  Jersey  imitated  Mas 
sachusetts  and  put  out  bills  of  credit. 

These  early  issues  of  credit-bills  are  not  to 
be  confounded  with  the  "  banks  of  paper 
money "  of  a  later  time.  The  amounts  were 
small.  The  purpose  was  the  payment  of  some 
pressing  debt.  But  after  the  close  of  Queen 
Anne's  war  the  belief  sprang  up  in  the  minds 
of  men  that  it  was  the  duty  of  a  government  to 
provide  a  circulating  medium,  and  that  just  as 
fast  as  that  medium  disappeared,  the  duty  of 
the  government  was  to  make  more.  The  colo 
nists  were  heavy  traders ;  the  balance  of  trade 
was  against  them.  Their  specie  went  over  to 
England,  and,  unable  to  practice  that  self-denial 
necessary  to  bring  the  specie  back,  they  clam 
ored  for  a  currency.  Then  the  colonies  turned 
pawn-brokers  and  money-lenders,  set  up  loan 
offices,  and  issued- banks  of  paper  money.  Then 
whoever  held  a  mortgage,  or  owned  the  deed 
of  an  acre  of  land,  or  was  possessed  of  a  silver 
tankard  or  a  ring  of  gold,  might,  if  he  chose, 
carry  it  to  the  loan  office,  leave  it  there,  and 
take  away  in  exchange  a  number  of  paper  bills. 

In  this  folly  Massachusetts  led  the  way,  in 


68  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

1714,  with  a  bank  of  fifty  thousand  pounds; 
New  York,  Rhode  Island,  South  Carolina, 
quickly  followed,  and  before  seven  years  were 
gone  the  loan  office  was  established  in  Pennsyl 
vania  and  New  Jersey. 

This  was  inevitable.  The  trade  of  New  Jer 
sey  was  with  New  York.  The  people  of  New 
York  had  a  paper  currency,  and  paid  in  paper 
for  every  cord  of  wood  and  for  every  boat-load 
of  potatoes  that  came  over  the  bay.  These 
paper  bills  of  New  York,  passing  current  with 
the  farmers  of  New  Jersey,  drove  out  of  circula 
tion  every  pistole,  every  carolin,  every  chequin, 
every  piece-of-eight,  the  bounds  of  the  colony 
contained ;  for  the  ingenuity  of  man  never  has 
and  never  can  devise  a  plan  for  the  common 
circulation  of  specie  and  debased  paper  bills. 

Thus,  when  1723  came,  the  people  of  the  Jer 
seys  were  paying  their  debts  with  the  money 
of  New  York,  and  their  taxes  with  bits  of  plate, 
ear-rings  and  finger-rings,  watches,  and  jewelry 
of  every  sort.  Nor  were  coins  much  more  plen 
tiful  in  Pennsylvania.  A  few  light  pistoles,  a 
few  pieces-of-eight,  a  few  English  shillings, 
passed  from  hand  to  hand.  But  so  far  were  they 
from  supplying  the  needs  of  trade  that  the  men 
of  Chester  besought  the  Assembly  to  make  pro 
duce  a  legal  tender,  to  prohibit  the  exportation 
of  coin,  and  to  add  one  more  shilling  to  the 


PAPER  MONET.  59 

Spanish  dollar.  The  merchants  of  Philadelphia 
and  the  traders  of  Bucks  sent  up  petitions  for 
a  paper  currency.  Most  of  these  prayers  were 
heard.  Another  shilling  was  added  to  the  dol 
lar  ;  produce  was  made  a  legal  tender,  and  the 
best  of  all  forms  of  colonial  paper  money  was 
emitted.  The  bank  was  limited  to  fifteen  thou 
sand  pounds ;  four  thousand  to  pay  the  debts  of 
the  province,  and  eleven  thousand  to  be  loaned 
to  the  people.  As  the  law  distinctly  stated  that 
the  new  money  was  to  relieve  the  distress  of 
the  poor,  no  man  was  suffered  to  borrow  more 
than  one  hundred  pounds.  Nor  could  he  have 
even  that  unless  he  came  to  the  loan  office  and 
deposited  plate  of  three  times  the  value,  or 
mortgaged  lands,  houses,  or  ground-rents  of 
twice  the  value  of  the  sum  he  received,  and 
agreed  to  pay  into  the  treasury  each  year  five 
per  centum  interest  and  one  eighth  the  princi 
pal.  So  quickly  were  the  bills  taken  up,  and 
so  much  were  they  liked,  that  another  bank  of 
thirty  thousand  pounds  was  issued  before  the 
year  went  out. 

When  the  Lords  of  Trade  heard  of  these 
proceedings,  they  hastened  to  send  back  a  dis 
approval  and  a  warning.  The  governor  was 
bidden  to  recall  the  evils  that  had  come  upon 
other  colonies  from  making  bills  of  credit.  The 
people  were  assured  that  nothing  but  tenderness 


60  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

for  the  men  in  whose  hands  the  new  money 
was  prevented  the  acts  being  laid  before  the 
king  for  repeal.  A  warning  was  given  that, 
should  any  more  acts  emitting  paper  money  be 
p:\ssed,  they  would  surely  be  disallowed.  On 
the  first  of  March,  1731,  the  bills  were  to  be 
come  irredeemable,  and  as  that  day  came  nearer 
and  nearer  the  merchants  and  traders  grew 
more  and  more  uneasy,  and  more  and  more 
doubtful  what  to  do.  The  opponents  of  paper 
money  dwelt  much  on  the  danger  of  such  a 
currency  and  the  threat  of  the  Lords  of  Trade. 
The  friends  of  paper  money  had  much  to  say 
of  the  brisk  times  that  followed  the  issues 
of  1723. 

But  the  arguments  that  prevailed  most,  the 
arguments  that  brought  over  the  doubting, 
that  persuaded  the  governor  and  the  assembly, 
in  open  defiance  of  the  orders  from  England, 
not  only  to  reissue  the  old  money,  but  to  put 
out  thirty  thousand  pounds  of  new,  were  con 
tained  in  a  little  pamphlet  from  the  pen  of 
Franklin,  entitled  "  A  Modest  Inquiry  into  the 
Nature  and  Necessity  of  a  Paper  Currency." 

44  There  is,"  he  begins  by  saying,  "  a  certain 
quantity  of  money  needed  to  carry  on  trade. 
More  than  this  sum  can  be  productive  of  no 
real  use.  Less  than  this  quantity  is  always 
productive  of  serious  evils.  Lack  of  money  in 


/•?v. 

1     UNIVJT    f-WTH, 

PAMPHLET  ON  PAPEk  MQNEf.  j( 


a  country  puts  up  tbe  rate  of  interest,  and 
puts  down  the  price  of  that  part  of  produce 
used  in  trade.  It  keeps  skilled  workmen  from 
coming  in ;  it  induces  many  already  in  to  go 
out ;  it  causes,  in  a  country  like  America,  a 
far  greater  use  of  English  goods  than  there 
otherwise  would  be.  These  facts  being  under 
stood,  it  is  easy  [he  asserts]  to  see  what  kind 
of  men  will,  in  the  face  of  these  facts,  be  for, 
and  what  kind  of  men  will  be  against,  a  fur 
ther  issue  of  paper  bills.  On  the  side  of  the 
enemies  to  the  bills  will  be  the  lawyers,  the 
money-lenders,  the  speculators  in  land,  and  the 
men  who,  in  any  way,  are  dependent  upon  them. 
On  the  side  of  the  friends  to  the  issue  of  bills 
will  be  the  lovers  of  trade,  the  supporters  of 
manufactures,  and  the  men  who  have  the  inter 
est  of  the  proprietors  of  the  province  truly  at 
heart. 

"  The  enemies  to  paper  money  cry  out,  that, 
if  any  more  be  issued,  the  value  of  the  whole  of 
it  will  sink."  This  suggests  an  inquiry  into  the 
nature  of  money  in  general,  and  bills  of  credit 
in  particular.  Money,  he  declares,  "is  a  medium 
of  exchange ;  and  whatever  men  agree  to  make 
the  medium  is,  to  those  who  have  it,  the  very 
things  they  want,  because  it  will  buy  for  them 
the  very  things  they  want.  It  is  cloth  to  him 
who  wants  cloth.  It  is  corn  to  him  who  wants 


62  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

corn.  Custom  has  made  gold  and  silver  the  ma 
terials  for  this  medium  of  exchange.  But  the 
measure  of  value  for  this  medium  is  not  gold 
and  silver,  but  labor.  Labor  is  as  much  a  meas 
ure  of  the  value  of  silver  as  of  anything  else. 
Suppose  one  man  employed  to  raise  corn,  while 
another  man  is  busy  refining  gold.  At  the  end 
of  a  year  the  complete  produce  of  corn  and  the 
complete  produce  of  silver  are  the  natural  price 
of  each  other.  If  the  one  be  twenty  bushels 
and  the  other  twenty  ounces,  then  one  ounce  of 
silver  is  worth  the  labor  of  raising  one  bushel 
of  corn.  Money  therefore,  as  bullion,  is  valua 
ble  by  so  much  labor  as  it  costs  to  produce  that 
bullion. 

"  But  this  bullion,  when  coined  into  money, 
is  heavy,  consumes  time  in  the  counting,  cannot 
be  easily  hidden.  Hence  it  is  that  at  Ham 
burgh,  at  Amsterdam,  at  London,  at  Venice, 
the  centers  of  vast  trade,  men  have  resorted,  for 
sake  of  convenience,  to  banks  of  deposit  and 
bills  of  credit.  Into  the  banks  they  put  their 
gold  and  silver,  and  take  out  bills  to  the  value 
of  what  they  put  in.  Thus  the  money  of  the 
country  is  doubled,  the  banks  loaning  out  the 
gold  at  interest,  the  people  making  their  great 
payments  in  bills. 

"  As  the  men  of  Europe  put  in  money  for 
the  security  of  the  bills,  so  [says  he]  men  in 


PAMPHLET   ON  PAPER  MONEY.  63 

Pennsylvania,  not  having  money,  pledge  their 
land." 

These  principles  stated,  Franklin  proceeds 
to  consider  which  kind  of  security  is  the  bet 
ter, —  whether  bills  issued  on  money  or  bills 
issued  on'  land  are  more  likely  to  fall  in  value. 
His  answer  is,  of  course,  bills  issued  on  money. 
"  Gold  and  silver  may  become  so  plentiful  that 
a  coin  which  at  one  time  purchased  the  labor  of 
a  man  for  twenty  days,  will  not  at  another  time 
purchase  that  same  man's  labor  for  fifteen  days. 
Every  credit  bill  issued  on  that  coin  as  security 
must  therefore  depreciate."  And  this  he  claims 
is  precisely  what  has  taken  place  in  Europe 
ever  since  the  discovery  of  gold  in  America. 
"But  in  Pennsylvania  the  people  are  rapidly 
increasing,  land  is  always  in  demand,  its  value 
is  always  rising,  and  bills  of  credit  issued  on  it 
as  security  must  of  necessity  grow  more  and 
more  valuable  every  day." 

That  Franklin  was  deceived  by  such  shallow 
arguments,  that  he  really  meant  what  he  said, 
is  difficult  to  believe.  He  has  come  down  to 
us  as  the  great  teacher  of  thrift,  of  frugality, 
of  fair  and  honest  dealing.  Yet  man  cannot 
devise  anything  more  at  variance  with  these 
virtues  than  paper  money.  It  promotes  spec 
ulation  ;  it  encourages  extravagance ;  every 
piece  of  it  is  a  symbol  of  fraud.  The  value 


64  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

stamped  upon  its  face  is  one  thing;  the  real 
value  is  another  thing.  But  Franklin  was  now 
a  partisan,  and  was  soon  rewarded  for  his 
partisanship.  Had  he  meddled  in  theology,  had 
he  written  a  pamphlet  on  the  Keithian  schism, 
the  presses  of  Andrew  Bradford  and  David 
Harry  would  have  teemed  with  replies.  But  he 
wrote  on  a  question  of  political  economy.  Not 
a  man  among  the  supporters  of  specie  money 
could  reply,  and  his  remarks  were  hailed  as 
unanswerable.  When,  therefore,  his  friends 
carried  the  day,  and  thirty  thousand  pounds  in 
paper  money  was  ordered  to  be  printed,  Ben 
jamin  Franklin  was  made  the  printer.  "  A 
very  profitable  job,"  says  he  in  the  Autobio 
graphy,  "  and  a  great  help  to  me." 

Bad  as  were  his  notions  of  political  economy, 
his  pamphlet  contained  one  great  truth,  —  the 
truth  that  labor  is  a  measure  of  value.  Whether 
he  discovered,  or,  as  is  not  unlikely,  borrowed 
it,  he  was  the  first  to  openly  assert  it ;  and  his 
it  remained  till,  forty-seven  years  later,  Adam 
Smith  adopted  and  reaffirmed  it  in  "The 
Wealth  of  Nations." 


CHAPTER  III. 

1729-1748. 

THE  pamphlet  on  paper  money  finished, 
Franklin  wrote  nothing  for  six  months.  By 
that  time  Keimer  had  fallen  deeply  in  debt,  had 
been  dragged  to  jail  for  the  ninth  time,  had 
compounded  with  his  creditors,  had  been  liber 
ated,  had  failed  again,  and  had  sold  his  news 
paper  to  Franklin  &  Meredith  for  a  trifle. 
Ninety  subscribers  then  took  the  "  Instructor  " 
each  week,  and  thirty-nine  weekly  numbers  had 
been  issued.  With  the  fortieth,  which  bears 
date  October  2,  1729,  a  new  era  opened.  The 
silly  name  was  cut  down  to  "  The  Pennsyl 
vania  Gazette."  The  Quaker  nomenclature 
was  dropped,  "  The  Religious  Courtship"  ceased 
to  be  published.  Except  at  long  intervals,  no 
extracts  from  Chambers's  Dictionary  appeared  ; 
and,  for  the  first  time  in  the  history  of  our 
country,  a  newspaper  was  issued  twice  a  week. 
In  this  Franklin  was  far,  indeed  too  far,  in 
advance  of  the  age,  and,  when  the  bad  weather 
came  and  the  postrider  made  his  trips  northward 


66  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

but  once  a  fortnight,  the  "  Gazette  "  once  more 
became  a  weekly  paper,  and  remained  so  for 
years. 

Thus  stripped  of  nonsense,  the  "  Gazette " 
began  to  be  conducted  on  strictly  business 
principles.  Franklin  knew  that  to  make  it 
profitable  he  must  have  advertisements,  that  to 
secure  advertisements  he  must  have  circulation, 
and  that  to  get  circulation  he  must  have  buyers 
out  of  town.  But  to  get  out-of-town  subscrib 
ers  was  no  easy  matter.  Newspapers  were  not 
mailable.  The  postriders,  therefore,  could  not 
be  forced  to  take  the  "  Gazette,"  and  Bradford, 
who  was  postmaster,  would  not  allow  them  to 
take  it  voluntarily.  They  were  accordingly 
bribed  in  secret  to  smuggle  the  "  Gazettes " 
into  their  postbags,  and  do  their  best  to  secure 
subscriptions. 

To  get  a  circulation  in  Philadelphia  Frank 
lin  resorted  to  clever  expedients.  He  strove 
to  make  the  "  Gazette  "  amuse  its  readers,  and 
to  persuade  the  readers  to  write  for  the  "  Ga 
zette  ;  "  for  he  well  knew  that  every  contrib 
utor  would  buy  a  dozen  copies  of  the  paper 
containing  his  piece  from  sheer  love  of  seeing 
himself  in  print. 

In  the  first  number  published  under  his  name 
this  invitation  is  very  modestly  given.  He 
knew  it  was  a  common  belief  that  the  author 


THE  PENNSYLVANIA   GAZETTE.  67 

of  a  newspaper  should  be  a  man  well  versed  in 
languages,  in  geography,  in  history ;  be  able  to 
speak  of  wars,  both  by  land  and  sea  ;  be  famil 
iar  with  the  interests  of  princes  and  states, 
the  secrets  of  courts,  the  manners  and  customs 
of  all  nations ;  have  a  ready  pen,  and  be  able 
to  narrate  events  clearly,  intelligently,  and  in 
a  few  words.  But  such  men  were  scarce  in 
these  remote  parts  of  the  world,  and  the  printer 
therefore  must  hope  to  make  up  among  his 
friends  what  was  wanting  in  himself.  And 
this  invitation  is  repeated  again  and  again.  As 
surances  are  given  that  a  series  of  papers  on 
"  Speculation  "  and  "  Amusement "  are  shortly 
to  be  published,  and  gentlemen  "  disposed  to  try 
their  hands  in  some  little  performance"  are 
urged  to  make  use  of  this  chance.  No  gentle 
men  were  disposed  to  try  their  hands,  and  the 
papers  never  appeared.  Some  essays  on  "  Prim 
itive  Christianity"  did  appear,  and,  having  of 
fended  the  orthodox,  they  are  urged  to  inform 
the  public  what  is  the  truth. 

There  is  no  reason  to  suppose  that  such 
appeals  produced  a  single  essay.  But  the  pre 
tense  that  they  did  is  well  kept  up,  and  for 
many  years  the  editor  carried  on  a  lively  corre 
spondence  with  himself.  He  starts  a  question 
of  casuistry  in  one  number,  and  answers  it  in 
the  next.  He  suggests  and  discusses  reforms 


68  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

and  improvements  in  long  communications  be 
ginning,  "  Mr.  Printer,"  and,  when  the  town  is 
dull,  has  a  letter  from  Alice  Addertongue,  or  a 
note  from  Bob  Brief,  or  a  piece  of  pleasantry 
just  coarse  enough  to  excite  a  laugh.  Now  he 
pretends  that  he  is  besought  to  — 

"  Pray  let  the  prettiest  creature  in  this  place 
know  (by  publishing  this)  that  if  it  was  not 
for  her  affectation  she  would  be  absolutely  irre 
sistible  ;  "  and,  of  course,  in  the  next  issue  of 
the  "  Gazette  "  has  six  denials  from  the  six 
prettiest  creatures  in  the  place.  He  hears  that 
in  Bucks  County  a  flash  of  lightning  melted  the 
pewter  button  off  the  waistband  of  a  farmer's 
breeches,  and  observes,  "  'T  is  well  nothing 
else  thereabouts  was  made  of  pewter."  An 
other  week  the  casuist  offers  an  "  honorary  re 
ward  to  any  cabalist "  who  shall  demonstrate 
that  Z  contains  more  occult  virtue  than  X. 
Then  there  is  "  a  pecuniary  gratification  "  for 
anybody  who  shall  prove  "  that  a  man's  having 
a  Property  in  a  tract  of  land,  more  or  less,  is 
thereby  entitled  to  any  advantage,  irrespective 
of  understanding,  over  another  Fellow,  who  has 
no  other  Estate  than  the  air  to  breathe  in,  the 
Earth  to  walk  upon,  and  all  the  rivers  of  the 
world  to  drink  of."  When  nothing  else  will 
serve,  his  own  mishaps  are  described  for  the 
amusement  of  the  town.  "  Thursday  last,  a  cer- 


THE  PENNSYLVANIA   GAZETTE.  69 

tain  P r  ('t  is  not  customary  to  give  names 

at  length  on  these  occasions)  walking  carefully 
in  clean  Clothes  over  some  Barrels  of  Tar  on 
Carpenter's  Wharff,  the  head  of  one  of  them 
unluckily  gave  way,  and  let  a  Leg  of  him  in 
above  the  Knee.  Whether  he  was  upon  the 
Catch  at  that  time,  we  cannot  say,  but  't  is 
certain  he  caught  a  Tar-tar.  'T  was  observed 
he  sprang  out  again  right  briskly,  verifying 
the  common  saying,  As  nimble  as  a  Bee  in  a 
Tarbarrel.  You  must  know  there  are  several 
sorts  of  Bees  :  'tis  true  he  was  no  Honey  Bee, 
nor  yet  a  Humble  Bee  ;  but  a  Boo-Bee  he  may 
be  allowed  to  be,  namely  B.  F." 

His  more  serious  contributions  to  the  "  Ga 
zette  "  may  be  classed  as  dialogues,  as  bad  as 
those  of  any  writer ;  pieces  of  domestic  and 
political  economy  after  the  manner  of  "  Poor 
Richard  ;  "  moral  essays  and  pieces  of  pleas 
antry  and  mirth,  which  he  has  himself  de 
clared  "  have  a  secret  charm  in  them  to  allay 
the  heats  and  tumours  of  our  spirits,  and  to 
make  a  man  forget  his  restless  resentments." 

Writings  of  this  description  would  usually 
appear  when  storms  delayed  the  London  packets 
and  the  "  Craftsman  "  and  the  "  British  Jour 
nal  "  failed  to  come  to  hand ;  when  winter  in 
terrupted  travel,  and  the  postman  made  his 
trips  northward  but  once  a  fortnight ;  when  the 


70  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

freezing  of  the  rivers  shut  out  the  coasters,  and 
news  grew  scarce  and  trade  grew  dull ;  when  the 
town,  no  longer  absorbed  in  business,  was  more 
than  ever  ready  to  be  amused.  Anything  to 
break  the  dullness  was  acceptable,  and  some 
thing  was  sure  to  come.  One  week  he  affects 
to  be  one  of  the  tribe  of  pedants  whose  business 
it  is  to  expurgate,  annotate,  and  deface  the  text 
of  ancient  authors  with  silly  comments  and  with 
useless  notes ;  takes  a  nursery  rhyme  for  his 
text ;  has  much  to  say  of  readings,  manuscripts, 
and  versions  ;  and  treats  his  readers  to  a  good 
satire,  which  has,  in  our  day,  found  an  uncon 
scious  imitator  in  the  author  of  the  sermon  on 
"  Old  Mother  Hubbard."  Another  week  he  is 
a  purchaser  laughing  at  the  tradesmen  for  al 
ways  protesting  that  they  sell  wares  for  less  than 
cost ;  and  in  the  next  number  is  a  tradesman 
laughing  at  buyers  who  assert  in  every  shop 
they  enter  that  the  goods  they  are  examining 
can  be  had  for  less  elsewhere.  But  better  than 
any  of  these  are  "  The  Meditations  on  a  Quart 
Mug,"  the  account  of  the  witch  trial  at  Mount 
Holly,  and  the  "  Speech  of  Miss  Polly  Baker 
before  a  Court  of  Judicatory  in  New  England, 
where  she  was  presented  for  the  fifth  time  for 
having  a  Bastard  Child." 

To  a  generation  that  frowns  on  Tom  Jones 
and  Peregrine  Pickle,  the  speech  of  Miss  Polly 


THE  PENNSYLVANIA   GAZETTE.  71 

is  coarse  in  the  extreme.  But  it  enjoyed  in  its 
own  time  an  immense  popularity,  was  printed 
and  reprinted  for  fifty  years,  was  cited  by  Abbe* 
Raynal  in  his  "  Histoire  Philosophique  des 
Deux  Indes  "  as  a  veritable  fact,  and  is  assur 
edly  a  rare  piece  of  wit.  The  account  of  the 
witch  -  ducking  is  nearly  as  witty,  cannot  be 
accused  of  being  coarse,  is  not  to  be  found 
among  Franklin's  collected  writings,  and  may 
therefore  be  given  in  full. 

"  Saturday  last,  at  Mount  Holly,  about  eight 
miles  from  this  place  [Burlington],  near  three 
hundred  people  were  gathered  together  to  see  an 
experiment  or  two  tried  on  some  persons  ac 
cused  of  witchcraft.  It  seems  the  accused  had 
been  charged  with  making  the  neighbours'  sheep 
dance  in  an  uncommon  manner,  and  with  caus 
ing  hogs  to  speak  and  sing  Psalms,  etc.,  to  the 
great  terror  and  amazement  of  the  king's  good 
and  peaceful  subjects  in  the  province ;  and  the 
accusers,  being  very  positive  that  if  the  accused 
were  weighed  against  a  Bible,  the  Bible  would 
prove  too  heavy  for  them ;  or  that,  if  they  were 
bound  and  put  into  the  River  they  would  swim  ; 
the  said  accused,  desirous  to  make  innocence 
appear,  voluntarily  offered  to  undergo  the  said 
trials  if  two  of  the  most  violent  of  their  accus 
ers  would  be  tried  with  them.  Accordingly  the 
time  and  place  was  agreed  on  and  advertised 


72  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

about  the  country.  The  accused  were  one  man 
and  one  woman :  and  the  accusers  the  same. 
The  parties  being  met  and  the  people  got  to 
gether,  a  grand  consultation  was  held  before 
they  proceeded  to  trial,  in  which  it  was  agreed 
to  use  the  scales  first ;  and  a  committee  of  men 
were  appointed  to  search  the  man,  and  a  com 
mittee  of  women  to  search  the  woman,  to  see  if 
they  had  anything  of  weight  about  them,  par 
ticularly  pins.  After  the  scrutiny  was  over  a 
huge  great  Bible  belonging  to  the  Justice  of  the 
Peace  was  produced,  and  a  lane  through  the 
populace  was  made  from  the  Justice's  house  to 
the  scales,  which  were  fixed  on  a  gallows  erected 
for  that  purpose  opposite  to  the  house,  that  the 
Justice's  wife  and  the  rest  of  the  ladies  might 
see  the  trial  without  coming  among  the  mob, 
and  after  the  manner  of  Moorefield  a  large  ring 
was  also  made.  Then  came  out  of  the  house  a 
grave,  tall  man  carrying  the  Holy  Writ  before 
the  wizard  as  solemnly  as  the  sword-bearer  of 
London  before  the  Lord  Mayor.  The  wizard 
was  first  placed  in  the  scale,  and  over  him  was 
read  a  chapter  out  of  the  Book  of  Moses,  and 
then  the  Bible  was  put  in  the  other  scale,  which, 
being  kept  down  before,  was  immediately  let 
go ;  but,  to  the  great  surprise  of  the  spectators, 
flesh  and  blood  came  down  plump  and  out 
weighed  that  great  good  Book  by  abundance. 


TEE  PENNSYLVANIA   GAZETTE.  73 

After  the  same  manner  the  others  were  served, 
and  the  lumps  of  mortality  severally  were  too 
heavy  for  Moses  and  all  the  Prophets  and  Apos 
tles.  This  being  over,  the  accusers  and  the 
rest  of  the  mob,  not  being  satisfied  with  the  ex 
periment,  would  have  trial  by  water.  Accord 
ingly  a  most  solemn  procession  was  made  to  the 
mill-pond,  where  the  accused  arid  accusers,  be 
ing  stripped  (saving  only  to  the  women  their 
shifts)  were  bound  hand  and  foot  and  severally 
placed  in  the  water,  lengthways,  from  the  side 
of  a  barge  or  Flat,  having  for  security  only  a 
rope  about  the  middle  of  each,  which  was  held 
by  some  one  in  the  Flat.  The  accuser  man 
being  thin  and  spare  with  some  difficulty  began 
to  sink  at  last ;  but  the  rest,  every  one  of  them, 
swam  very  light  upon  the  water.  A  sailor  in 
the  Flat  jumped  out  upon  the  back  of  the  man 
accuser  thinking  to  drive  him  down  to  the  bot 
tom  ;  but  the  person  bound,  without  any  help, 
came  up  some  time  before  the  other.  The  wo 
man  accuser  being  told  that  she  did  not  sink, 
would  be  ducked  a  second  time ;  when  she  swam 
again  as  light  as  before.  Upon  which  she  de 
clared  that  the  accused  had  bewitched  her  to 
make  her  so  light,  and  that  she  would  be  ducked 
again  a  hundred  times  but  that  she  would  duck 
the  Devil  out  of  her.  The  accused  man,  being 
surprised  at  his  own  swimming,  was  not  so  con- 


74  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

fident  of  his  own  innocence  as  before,  but  said, 
4  If  I  am  a  witch,  it  is  more  than  I  know.' 
The  more  thinking  part  of  the  spectators  were 
of  opinion  that  any  person  so  bound  and  placed 
in  the  water  (unless  they  were  mere  skin  and 
bones)  would  swim  till  their  breath  was  gone, 
and  their  lungs  filled  with  water.  But  it  being 
the  general  belief  of  the  populace  that  the  wo 
men's  shifts  and  the  garters  with  which  they 
were  bound  helped  to  support  them,  it  is  said 
they  are  to  be  tried  again  the  next  warm 
weather,  naked." 

This  readiness  of  Franklin  to  provoke  laugh 
ter  sometimes  cost  him  dear.  Thus  it  happened 
on  one  occasion  that  he  was  called  on  to  print  a 
notice  setting  forth  that  a  certain  ship  would,  on 
a  certain  day,  sail  for  a  certain  port  in  the  Bar- 
badoes,  and  that  freighters  and  passengers  might 
make  terms  with  the  captain  on  the  wharf.  He 
made  of  the  notice  just  such  a  hand  bill  as  it 
was  then  the  custom  to  fasten  on  the  walls  of 
the  coffee-houses  and  the  taverns,  and,  to  insure 
the  bill  being  read,  added  these  words  of  his 
own :  "  N.  B.  No  Sea  Hens,  nor  Black  Gowns, 
will  be  admitted  on  any  terms."  The  end  was 
at  once  attained.  No  one  who  read  the  notice 
but  went  straightway  and  brought  some  one  else 
to  read  it,  and  in  a  few  days  the  whole  town 
was  laughing  at  the  Black  Gowns,  and  asking 
what  a  Sea  Hen  could  be. 


tJN] 


THE  PENNSYLVANIA   GAZET 


But  the  Black  Gowns  saw  nothing  to  laugh 
at  ;  took  offense,  and  sent  Franklin  notice  that 
as  a  punishment  for  his  maliciousness  they  not 
only  would  cease  buying  his  "  Gazette,"  but 
would  use  their  best  endeavors  to  prevent  others 
from  buying. 

Franklin  kept  his  temper  and  replied.  He 
was,  he  said,  so  often  censured  by  people  for 
printing  things  they  thought  ought  not  to  be 
printed,  that  he  was  strongly  tempted  to  write 
a  standing  apology  and  publish  it  once  a  year. 
These  faultfinders  forgot  the  difference  between 
the  printing  trade  arid  any  other  trade.  A  table 
constructed  by  a  Jew,  a  pair  of  shoes  made  by 
an  infidel,  a  piece  of  ironmongery  beaten  out 
by  a  heretic,  give  no  offense  to  the  most  or 
thodox.  But  a  printer  had  to  do  with  men's 
opinions.  Opinions  were  as  various  as  faces,  and 
it  was  therefore  impossible  to  get  a  living  by 
printing  without  offending  some  one,  or  per 
haps  many.  It  was  unreasonable  for  any  man, 
or  any  set  of  men,  to  expect  to  be  pleased  with 
everything  put  in  type.  It  was  unreasonable 
to  suppose  that  printers  approved  of  everything 
they  put  in  type,  or  to  insist  that  they  should 
print  only  what  they  did  approve.  If  they 
sometimes  put  forth  vicious  and  silly  things  not 
worth  reading,  they  did  so,  not  because  they 
liked  such  things  themselves,  but  because  the 


76  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

people  were  so  viciously  educated  that  good 
things  were  not  encouraged.  A  small  impres 
sion  of  The  Psalms  of  David  had  been  upon  his 
shelves  for  above  two  years :  yet  he  had  known 
a  large  impression  of  Robin  Hood's  Songs  to 
go  off  in  a  twelvemonth.  As  for  the  hand  bill 
that  caused  so  much  offense,  he  printed  it,  not 
because  he  hated  the  clergy,  nor  because  he 
despised  religion,  but  because  he  got  five  shil 
lings  by  printing  it,  which  was  just  five  shil 
lings  more  than  anybody  would  have  given  him 
to  let  it  alone.  When  he  considered  the  variety 
of  humors  among  men,  he  despaired  of  pleas 
ing  everybody.  Yet  he  should  not  on  that  ac 
count  leave  off  printing.  He  should  go  on  with 
the  business  ;  he  should  not  burn  his  press  nor 
melt  his  type. 

When  he  again  offended  and  was  called  to 
an  account,  the  reply  was  very  different.  A 
barber,  hair-dresser,  and  peruke-maker  who  had 
long  been  advertising  in  the  "  Gazette"  sud 
denly  informed  the  public  that  he  would  no 
longer  shave  and  cut  hair.  News  being  scarce 
and  the  taverns  dull,  Franklin  took  the  notice 
for  a  text,  printed  it  at  the  head  of  an  essay 
on  shavers  and  trimmers  in  business,  in  politics, 
and  in  the  church,  and  heard  from  every  adver 
tiser  in  his  newspaper.  If  this  thing  went  on, 
he  was  given  to  understand,  there  would  soon  be 


THE  PENNSYLVANIA   GAZETTE.  77 

an  end  to  all  advertising.  What  guaranty  had 
they  that  the  next  merchant  who  advertised 
Jamaica  rum  or  very  good  sack  would  not  see 
his  notice  at  the  head  of  a  long  disquisition  on 
Drunkards  and  the  Evils  of  Drink? 
To  these  protests  Franklin  replied  :  — 
"  My  paper  on  4  Shavers  and  Trimmers '  in. 
the  last  '  Gazette  '  being  generally  condemned, 
I  at  first  imputed  it  to  the  want  of  Taste  and 
Relish  for  pieces  of  that  Force  and  Beauty 
which  none  but  thoroughly-bred  Gentlemen 
can  produce.  But  upon  advice  of  Friends,  whose 
judgement  I  could  depend  on,  I  examined  my 
self,  and  to  my  shame  must  confess  that  I  found 
myself  to  be  an  uncircumcised  Jew,  whose  Ex 
crescences  of  Hair,  Nails,  Flesh,  &c.,  did  burthen 
and  disgrace  my  Natural  Endowments  ;  but  hav 
ing  my  Hair  and  Nails  since  lopp'd  off  and  shorn, 
and  my  fleshy  Excrescences  circumcised,  I  now 
appear  in  my  wonted  Lustre  and  expect  speedy 
admission  among  the  Levites,  which  I  have 
already  the  honor  of  among  the  Poets  and 
Natural  Philosophers.  I  have  one  thing  more 
to  say,  which  is,  that  I  had  no  real  animosity 
against  the  person  whose  advertisement  I  made 
the  matter  of  my  paper." 

Among  the  papers  on  domestic  economy,  the 
complaint  of  Anthony  Afterwit,  who  has  been 
hurried  from  one  piece  of  extravagance  to 


78  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

another  by  a  foolish  wife  ;  the  reply  of  Patience 
Teacroft  defending  the  wife;  the  letter  of  Celia 
Single  on  the  idleness  and  extravagance  of  men, 
are  decidedly  the  best  productions.  Franklin 
was  a  born  moralist.  When  a  lad  of  twenty 
lie  wrote  a  letter  to  his  sister,  a  girl  of  fifteen, 
on  the  duties  of  a  housewife,  which  in  its  kind 
is  inimitable.  It, was  quite  in  his  natural  vein. 
But  the  moment  he  quitted  this  natural  vein 
and  undertook  compositions  of  another  sort,  he 
began  to  utter  the  stale  sayings  of  the  school 
boy  and  the  preacher.  His  remarks  on  the 
"  Usefulness  of  Mathematics,"  on  "  Govern 
ment,"  on  "  How  to  Please  in  Conversation  ;  " 
his  dialogues  between  Philocles  and  Horatius, 
between  Socrates  and  Critico,  between  Socrates 
and  Glaucon,  between  two  Presbyterians  on 
staying  away  from  church,  in  which  the  beha 
vior  of  Mr.  Hemphill  is  warmly  defended, — 
are  not  worth  reading.  The  pieces  called  "  The 
Family  of  the  Boxes  "  and  "  The  Drinkers'  Dic 
tionary,"  are  positively  foolish.  On  the  other 
hand,  "  The  Meditations  on  a  Quart  Mug,"  and 
the  "  Thoughts  of  the  Ephemera  on  Human 
Vanity,"  which  he  afterwards  rewrote  for 
Madame  Brillon,  could  not  have  been  done  bet 
ter  by  Addison  himself. 

Below  these,  and  much  below,  are  the  essays 
against  swearing,  "  On  Lying  Tradesmen,"  "  On 


THE  PENNSYLVANIA   GAZETTE.  79 

Scandal,"  "  On  the  Waste  of  Life,"  "  On  True 
Happiness,"  "  On  the  Rules  and  Maxims  for 
Promoting  Matrimonial  Happiness."  Mingled 
with  these  are  pieces  of  a  very  different  kind, — 
pieces  whose  purpose  is  either  to  bring  about 
some  needed  reform,  or  strongly  affect  public 
opinion.  One  of  his  earliest  attempts  at  this 
sort  of  writing  was  in  1735,  when  he  became 
for  a  time  embroiled  in  a  dispute  with  the 
Presbyterian  ministers.  The  cause  of  the 
trouble  was  Samuel  Hemphill,  a  young  Presby 
terian  preacher,  who  came  from  the  north  of 
Ireland.  Hemphill  had  been  licensed  by  the 
Presbytery  of  Strabane,  had  been  tried  for 
heresy,  had  been  acquitted,  had  come  over  to 
America,  and  had  been  followed  by  a  letter 
from  one  of  his  old  foes.  The  letter  set  forth 
that  Mr.  Hemphill  was  a  Deist,  a  New-Light 
man,  or  a  heretic  of  some  sort,  and  ought  not  to 
be  suffered  to  have  a  place  in  the  true  fold.  The 
busybody  to  whom  it  was  sent  carried  it  to  the 
minister,  read  it  -to  all  who  would  listen,  and 
Mr.  Hemphill  was  soon  before  the  presbytery 
of  New  Castle.  He  was  again  acquitted,  and 
came  to  Philadelphia,  where  Jedidiah  Andrews, 
who  preached  in  the  old  Buttonwood  Church, 
gave  up  the  pulpit  to  him  once  each  Sunday. 
Young,  eloquent,  with  a  good  delivery  and  an 
easy  flow  of  words,  he  drew  crowds  to  hear, 


80  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

and  of  those  who  listened  none  liked  him  bet 
ter  than  Franklin. 

Andrews  meanwhile  grew  jealous,  and  went 
among  the  congregation  calling  Hemphill  a 
Deist,  a  Socinian,  a  missionary  sent  from  Ire 
land  to  corrupt  the  faith  once  delivered  to  the 
saints,  and  soon  had  him  before  a  commission 
of  the  synod.  There  Andrews  accused  him  of 
saying  and  doing  dreadful  things.  So  depraved 
was  Hemphill  that,  when  he  prayed,  he  prayed 
not  for  any  church,  nor  for  any  minister,  but  for 
all  mankind.  In  summing  up  the  distempers 
of  the  soul,  he  said  nothing  of  the  distemper  by 
original  sin.  He  had  been  heard  to  say  that 
reason  is  our  rule,  and  was  given  for  a  rule. 
He  had  spoken  against  the  need  of  spiritual 
pangs  in  order  to  conversion.  The  commission, 
to  their  great  grief,  found  him  guilty  and  sus 
pended  him.  Thereupon  Franklin  took  up  his 
cause,  and  wrote  in  his  defence  two  pamphlets 
and  two  pieces  in  the  "  Gazette."  One  of  the 
pieces  was  called  "  A  Dialogue  between  two 
Presbyterians  on  Staying  Away  from  Church." 
The  other,  which  soon  appeared  as  a  pamphlet, 
was  called  "  A  Letter  to  a  Friend  in  the  Country 
Containing  the  Substance  of  a  Sermon  preach'd 
at  Philadelphia,  in  the  Congregation  of  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Hemphill."  A  third,  and  the  stron 
gest  of  them  all,  is  "  Some  Observations  on  the 


THE  PENNSYLVANIA   GAZETTE.  81 

Proceedings  against  the  Rev.  Mr.  Hemphill ; 
with  a  Vindication  of  his  Sermons."  It  was 
eagerly  read,  passed  rapidly  through  two  edi 
tions,  and  quickly  led  to  a  violent  pamphlet 
war.  One  writer  answered  the  "  Letter  to  a 
Friend"  in  a  pamphlet  of  thirty-two  pages. 
Another,  or  perhaps  the  same,  attacked  the 
"  Observations  "  in  a  yet  longer  pamphlet  en 
titled  "  A  Vindication  of  the  Reverend  Com 
mission  of  the  Synod,"  and  was  in  turn  promptly 
answered  by  Franklin.  He  called  his  pam 
phlet  "  A  Defense  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Hemphill's 
Observations,"  gave  a  sketch  of  Mr.  Hemphill's 
history,  took  up  the  charges  preferred  by  Mr. 
Andrews,  examined  them  carefully,  went  over 
the  finding  of  the  reverend  commission,  accused 
it  of  acting  after  the  manner  and  with  the  spirit 
of  the  Spanish  Inquisition,  and  provoked  a  reply 
most  ruinous  to  his  cause.  The  title  was,  "  Re 
marks  upon  the  Defense,"  and  the  author  de 
clared  Mr.  Hemphill  to  be  a  reverend  plagiary, 
and  made  good  the  charge.  One  of  his  sermons 
he  had  taken  from  Dr.  Clarke,  an  open  Arian. 
Three  more  were  the  work  of  Dr.  Ibbots,  who 
assisted  Dr.  Clarke.  Yet  another  was  taken 
from  a  published  sermon  of  Dr.  Forster.  Hemp- 
hill  afterwards  owned  to  Franklin  that  each  of 
his  sermons  was  the  work  of  some  one  else. 
But  even  then  his  defender  flinched  not,  and 


82  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

stoutly  declared  that  he  would  far  rather  hear 
a  good  though  borrowed  sermon,  than  a  sermon 
that  was  original  and  bad. 

When  Franklin  wrote  his  Autobiography,  he 
did  not  believe  a  copy  of  one  of  his  pamphlets 
to  be  extant.  Sparks,  when  editing  the  doctor's 
works,  asserted  that  none  of  them  had  ever 
been  found.  Both  were  mistaken.  Copies  of 
each  of  the  pamphlets  are  in  existence,  and 
have,  within  quite  recent  years,  been  sold  at 
the  auction  block. 

Franklin  next  took  up  the  matter  of  reform. 
Whenever  he  had  such  work  to  do,  it  was  his 
custom  to  write  a  paper  with  great  care  on  the 
abuse  to  be  corrected,  and  read  it  some  evening 
to  the  Junto.  If  the  Junto  thought  well  of  it, 
he  would  put  "  Mr.  Franklin,"  or  "  To  the 
Printer,"  at  the  top,  and  "  Philadelphia,"  or 
"  Old  Tradesman,"  at  the  bottom,  and  publish 
it  in  the  "  Gazette."  An  answer  or  two,  like 
wise  written  by  Franklin,  would  follow,  and  in 
a  few  weeks  the  city  council,  or  the  grand  jury, 
or  the  assembly,  would  have  the  matter  in 
charge. 

It  was  by  such  means  that  he  reformed  the 
city  watch ;  that  he  established  the  fire  compa 
nies;  that  he  persuaded  the  people  to  light  the 
streets,  to  sweep  the  pavements  around  the 
market,  and  to  organize  the  first  militia.  On 


THE  PENNSYLVANIA   GAZETTE.  83 

the  1st  of  July,  1TOO,  when  the  city  was  still 
a  little  place,  the  governor  and  council  estab 
lished  the  watch.  The  watch  consisted  of  one 
good  and  trusty  man,  who  each  night  went  the 
rounds  of  the  city,  rang  a  small  bell,  cried  the 
hours,  described  the  weather,  and  roused  the 
constable  if  he  spied  a  chimney  burning,  or  met 
a  drunken  Indian  on  the  streets.  Five  years 
later,  when  the  city  was  thought  a  great  one 
and  ten  wards  were  established,  the  constable 
of  each  in  turn  was  commanded  to  summon 
every  day  nine  citizens,  who,  with  himself, 
should  constitute  the  watch  for  his  ward. 

The  duty  of  these  ten  men  has  been  clearly 
laid  down  in  a  charge  which,  for  absurdity,  is 
surpassed  by  that  of  Dogberry  alone.  But 
nothing  in  the  charge  made  the  watch  as 
worthless  as  the  conduct  of  the  citizens  them 
selves.  Six  shillings  paid  to  the  constable  would 
secure  exemption  from  his  warning  for  a  year  ; 
and  that  man  was  poor  indeed  who  could  not 
get  together  six  shillings  to  be  free  of  such  ser 
vice.  The  band,  therefore,  that  went  with  the 
constable  on  his  nightly  rounds,  came  in  time 
to  be  made  up  of  the  very  scum  of  the  town. 
They  passed  whole  nights  in  the  tippling 
houses  ;  they  often  ceased  to  walk  their  rounds, 
and,  when  they  did,  to  meet  them  was  more  to 
be  dreaded  than  meeting  a  thief.  To  end  this 


84  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

abuse,  Franklin  proposed  a  permanent,  well- 
paid  watch  ;  addressed  himself  first  to  the 
Junto,  and  then  to  the  people,  who  addressed 
and  petitioned  the  assembly  for  eight  years 
before  the  reform  was  made. 

His  suggestions  for  the  better  extinguishing 
of  fires  were  more  speedily  adopted.  For  the 
prevention  of  fires  the  law  prescribed  in  what 
kind  of  ovens  bakers  should  bake  bread,  in  what 
kind  of  shops  coopers  should  make  casks  ;  fined 
any  man  who  smoked  on  the  streets  of  the  built 
part  of  the  city,  or  suffered  his  sooty  chimney 
to  burst  into  flame  ;  and  compelled  captains  of 
ships  moored  at  the  wharf  to  put  out  all  fires 
when  the  clock  struck  eight,  unless  the  mayor 
gave  a  license  to  keep  them  burning.  For  ex 
tinguishing  fires,  each  householder  kept  in  his 
shop  or  his  pantry  a  bucket  and  a  fourteen-foot 
swab ;  while  the  city  provided  hooks,  ladders, 
and  three  rude  engines  of  English  make.  At  the 
first  cry  of  fire  the  whole  town  was  in  excite 
ment  ;  the  laborer  quit  his  work,  the  apprentice 
dropped  his  tools,  buyers  and  sellers  swarmed 
from  the  market ;  and  the  shopkeeper,  calling 
his  wife  to  watch  his  goods,  seized  his  bucket 
and  hurried  away.  About  the  burning  building 
all  was  confusion  and  disorder.  No  man  was  in 
authority.  Each  man  did  as  he  pleased.  Some 
fell  into  line  and  helped  to  pass  the  full  buckets 


THE  PENNSYLVANIA   GAZETTE.  85 

from  the  pump  to  the  engine,  or  the  empty 
buckets  from  the  engine  to  the  pump;  some 
caught  up  the  hooks  and  pulled  down  blazing 
boards  and  shingles  ;  some  rushed  into  the  build 
ing  with  their  ozenbrig  bags,  and  came  out  la 
den  with  household  stuff. 

All  this  energy,  excellent  as  it  was,  seemed 
to  Franklin  misused.  If  so  much  could  be  done 
in  a  way  so  bad,  a  hundred-fold  more,  he 
thought,  could  be  done  if  a  little  order  were 
introduced.  Thinking  so,  he  wrote  two  papers 
on  the  subject  of  fires,  read  them  to  the  Junto, 
and  published  them  in  the  "  Gazette."  The 
matter  is  in  no  wise  remarkable ;  but  the  style 
is  a  good  specimen  of  persuasive  argument. 
That  they  had  this  effect  on  people  in  general 
is  doubtful ;  but  they  did  on  the  Junto,  who 
quickly  formed  the  Union  Fire  Company,  the 
first  of  its  kind  in  the  province.  Others  fol 
lowed  their  example,  and  to  the  "  Union," 
"The  Hand-in-hand "  and  "The  Heart-in- 
hand  "  were  soon  added. 

Yet  another  of  his  pieces  in  the  "  Gazette  " 
must  not  be  passed  over  in  silence.  It  is  in 
verse,  and  is  a  paraphrase  of  the  sublime  lamen 
tation  of  David  over  the  death  of  Jonathan  and 
Saul.  He  begins  by  stating  his  belief  that  the 
art  of  poetry  was  made  known  to  the  Hebrews 
by  Moses  ;  gives  reasons  for  thinking  so ;  takes 


86  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

up  the  lamentation,  and  observes  that  it  has 
many  times  been  paraphrased  in  English,  that 
none  of  the  paraphrases  are  quite  to  his  mind, 
and  that  he  will  therefore  give  the  reader  one 
of  his  own  make,  as  bad  perhaps  as  any  of 
them.  The  poem  is  long ;  but  a  few  stanzas 
will  serve  as  a  specimen  of  all :  — 


Unhappy  Day !  distressing  sight, 

Israel,  the  Land  of  Heaven's  delight, 

How  is  thy  strength,  thy  beauty  fled ! 

On  the  high  places  of  the  fight, 

Behold  thy  Princes  fall'n,  thy  Sons  of  Victory  dead. 

ii. 

Ne'er  be  it  told  in  Gath,  nor  known 
Among  the  streets  of  Askelon  ; 
How  will  Philista's  youth  rejoice 
And  triumph  in  thy  shame, 
And  girls  with  weak  unhallow'd  voice 
Chant  the  dishonors  of  the  Hebrew  name ! 


Mountains  of  Gilboa,  let  no  dew 
Nor  fruitful  shower  descend  on  you ; 
Curse  on  your  fields  thro'  all  the  year ! 
No  flowTy  blessing  there  appear, 
Nor  golden  ranks  of  harvest  stand 
To  grace  the  altar,  nor  to  seed  the  land. 
'T  was  on  those  inauspicious  fields 
Judean  heroes  lost  their  shields. 
'T  was  there  (ah,  base  reproach  and  scandal  of  the  day  !) 

Thy  shield,  O  Saul !  was  cast  away, 
As  tho'  the  Prophet's  horn  had  never  shed 
Its  sacred  odors  on  thy  head. 


THE  PENNSYLVANIA   GAZETTE.  87 

Many  years  later,  when  age  and  experience 
should  have  taught  him  better,  he  again  made  a 
paraphrase  of  a  chapter  of  Job.  In  no  book,  it 
is  safe  to  say,  is  the  force  and  beauty  of  the 
English  tongue  so  finely  shown  as  in  King 
James's  Bible.  But  on  Franklin  that  force  and 
beauty  were  wholly  lost.  The  language  he 
pronounced  obsolete.  The  style  he  thought 
not  agreeable,  and  he  was  for  a  new  rendering 
in  which  the  turn  of  phrase  and  manner  of 
expression  should  be  modern.  That  there 
might  be  no  mistake  as  to  his  meaning,  he  gave 
a  sample  of  how  the  work  should  be  done  ;  took 
some  verses  from  the  first  chapter  of  Job, 
stripped  them  of  every  particle  of  grace, 
beauty,  imagery,  terseness,  and  strength,  and 
wrote  a  paraphrase  which,  of  all  paraphrases 
of  the  Bible,  is  surely  the  worst. 

JOB.  FRANKLIN. 

Verse  6.  Now  there  was  Verse  6.  And  it  being 

a  day  when  the  sons  of  levee  day  in  Heaven,  all 

God  came  to  present  them-  God's  nobility  came  to  court 

selves  before  the  Lord,  and  to  present  themselves  be- 

Satan  came  also  amongst  fore  him ;  and  Satan  also 

them.  appeared  in  the  circle,  as 

one  of  the  ministry. 

7.  And  the  Lord  said  unto  7.  And  God  said  unto 

Satan, Whence  comest  thou?  Satan,  You  have  been  some 

Then  Satan  answered  the  time  absent ;  where  were 

Lord  and  said,  From  going  you  ?  And  Satan  answered, 


88 


BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 


to  and  fro  in  the  earth,  and 
from  walking  up  and  down 
in  it. 

8.  And  the  Lord  said  un 
to    Satan,   Hast   thou   con 
sidered    my    servant    Job, 
that  there  is  none  like  him 
in  the  earth,  a  perfect  and 
an  upright   man,  one   that 
feareth  God  and  escheweth 
evil? 

9.  And  Satan    answered 
the   Lord   and    said,    Doth 
Job  fear  God  for  naught? 


I  have  been  at  my  country- 
seat,  and  in  different  places 
visiting  my  friends. 

8.  And   God  said,  Well, 
what   think   you    of    Lord 
Job?    You   see   he    is   my 
best     friend,     a     perfectly 
honest  man,  full  of  respect 
for  me,  and  avoiding  every 
thing  that  might  offend  me. 

9.  And  Satan  answered, 
Does  your  majesty  imagine 
that  his  good  conduct  is  the 
effect  of    personal   attach 
ment  and  affection  ? 


11.  But  put  forth  thine  11.  Try  him  —  onlywith- 
hand  now,  and  touch  all  draw  your  favor,  turn  him 
that  he  hath,  and  he  will  out  of  his  places,  and  with- 
curse  thee  to  thy  face.  hold  his  pensions,  and  you 

will  soon  find  him  in  the 

opposition. 

The  plan  is  beneath  criticism.  Were  such 
a  piece  of  folly  ever  begun,  there  would  remain 
but  one  other  depth  of  folly  to  which  it  would 
be  possible  to  go  down.  Franklin  proposed  to 
fit  out  the  Kingdom  of  Heaven  with  lords, 
nobles,  a  ministry,  and  levee  days.  It  would  on 
the  same  principle  be  proper  to  make  another 
version  suitable  for  republics ;  a  version  from 
which  every  term  and  expression  peculiar  to 


THE  PENNSYLVANIA   GAZETTE.  89 

a  monarchy  should  be  carefully  kept  out,  and 
only  such  as  are  applicable  to  a  republic  put  in. 
Nor  would  he  have  hesitated  to  make  such  a 
version.  The  Bible  was  to  him  in  no  sense  a 
book  for  spiritual  guidance.  It  showed  a  most 
amazing  knowledge  of  the  heart  of  man, 
of  the  actions  of  men,  of  the  passions  and 
temptations  of  men,  and  of  the  way  in  which 
during  moments  of  passion  and  temptation 
men  would  surely  act.  It  abounded  in  exam 
ples  as  often  to  be  shunned  as  followed.  It 
taught  just  such  lessons  as  he  was  teaching, — 
lessons  of  honesty,  thrift,  diligence,  worldly 
wisdom,  and  sometimes  of  politics.  But  it  dis 
played  this  knowledge,  held  up  these  examples, 
and  taught  these  lessons,  that  men  might  be 
happier,  not  in  another  world,  but  in  this. 

Hence  it  was  that  the  first  chapter  of  Job 
taught  him  nothing  but  a  lesson  in  politics.  In 
a  piece  called  "  The  Levee,"  and  still  placed 
among  the  bagatelles,  Franklin  set  forth  his 
understanding  of  the  strange  scene,  and  asks 
what  instruction  is  to  be  gathered  from  it. 
His  answer  is  ready :  "Trust  not  a  single  per 
son  with  the  government  of  your  state.  For  if 
the  Deity  himself,  being  the  monarch,  may  for 
a  time  give  way  to  calumny,  and  suffer  it  to 
operate  the  destruction  of  the  best  of  subjects, 
what  mischief  rnay  you  not  expect  from  such 


90  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

power  in  a  mere  man,  though  the  best  of  men, 
from  whom  the  truth  is  often  industriously 
hidden,  and  to  whom  falsehood  is  often  pre 
sented  in  its  place  by  artful,  interested,  and 
malicious  courtiers?" 

Distasteful  as  the  language  of  Scripture  was 
to  Franklin,  he  nevertheless  wrote  two  pieces 
in  close  imitation.  The  first  he  called  "  A  Par 
able  Against  Persecution,"  printed  it  in  the 
same  way  Bibles  are  printed,  and  fastened  it  in 
his  own  copy  at  the  end  of  Genesis  as  the  fifty- 
first  chapter  of  that  book.  His  custom  then 
was,  on  some  evening  when  a  host  of  friends 
were  seated  about  him,  to  lead  the  talk  to  the 
subject  of  parables,  bring  out  his  Bible,  read 
the  pretended  chapter  of  Genesis,  and  listen 
with  delight  while  his  guests  one  by  one  de 
clared  they  had  never  heard  the  parable 
before,  nor  knew  such  a  chapter  of  Genesis 
existed. 

In  this  way  Lord  Kames  saw  it,  and  in  1774 
reprinted  the  parable  in  his  "  Sketches  of 
the  History  of  Man."  Thence  it  passed  to 
Vaughan's  edition  of  Franklin's  works,  and  so 
to  volume  50  of  the  Gentleman's  Magazine, 
where  a  lively  dispute  soon  took  place  over  the 
question  who  wrote  it.  An  admirer  of  Jeremy 
Taylor  informed  Mr.  Urban  that  Franklin  had 
taken  the  parable  bodily  from  Taylor's  "  Polem- 


THE  PENNSYLVANIA    GAZETTE.  91 

ical  Discourses,"  where  it  could  be  found  at  the 
end  of  the  twenty-second  section  of  "  The  Lib 
erty  of  Prophesying."  This  was  true,  and  the 
curious  began  at  once  to  ask  where  Taylor  got 
it ;  for  he  headed  the  parable  with  the  words, 
"  I  end  with  a  story  which  I  find  in  the  Jews' 
Books."  At  last  a  writer  in  the  Repository 
for  May,  1788,  announced  that  he  had  found 
the  "  Jews'  Book,"  that  it  had  been  published 
at  Amsterdam  in  1651,  had  been  translated  by 
George  Gentius,  and  that  in  the  dedication 
was  the  parable,  ascribed  to  the  Persian  poet 
Saadi.  Lord  Teignmouth  now  translated  the 
version  of  Saadi,  and  sent  it  to  Bishop  Heber, 
who  put  it  among  the  notes  to  his  "  Life  of 
Jeremy  Taylor."  Franklin  meanwhile  was 
warmly  defended  in  the  Repository  for  June, 
1788,  and  declared,  in  a  letter  to  Mr.  Vaughan, 
that  the  Scripture  language  and  the  two  verses 
at  the  end  were  all  he  could  claim  as  his  own. 
But  the  discussion  as  to  where  he  got  it  was 
still  going  on  in  the  Gentleman's  Magazine  as 
late  as  1791.  In  1794  the  Parable  was  printed 
at  London  in  the  form  of  a  tract,  and  sold  for 
a  halfpenny. 

The  second  parable  is  on  brotherly  love. 
Some  Midian  merchants  passing  by  with  camels 
bearing  spices,  myrrh,  and  iron-ware,  Reuben 
buys  an  axe.  There  is  none  other  in  his  father's 


92  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

house,  and  Simeon,  Levi,  and  Judah  come  in 
turn  to  borrow  it.  But  Reuben  will  not  lend, 
and  the  brothers  are  forced  to  send  after  the 
Ishmaelite  merchants  and  buy  each  of  them  an 
axe  for  himself.  Now  it  happens,  as  Reuben 
hews  timber  on  the  river-bank,  his  axe  falls 
into  the  water.  Unable  to  find  it,  he  goes  in 
turn  to  his  brothers  to  borrow.  Simeon  refuses. 
Levi  consents,  but  consents  so  grudgingly  that 
Reuben  will  not  borrow ;  whereupon  Judah 
seeing  his  distress,  hastens  to  him  and  offers  the 
axe  unasked. 

Each  of  these  pieces  was  much  admired,  and 
the  fame  of  them  involved  Franklin  in  a  work 
that  signally  failed.  Sir  Francis  Dash  wood 
was  then  busy  abridging  the  Book  of  Com 
mon  Prayer.  Lord  Le  Despencer  asked  Frank 
lin  to  help.  He  did  so,  wrote  the  preface,  cut 
down  the  catechism,  and  paraphrased  the 
Psalms.  This  new  catechism  consisted  of  two 
questions  :  What  is  your  duty  to  God  ?  and 
What  is  your  duty  to  your  neighbor?  The 
new  Psalms  were  what  was  left  of  the  old  ones 
when  repetitions  and  imprecations  had  been 
taken  out.  Poetry  had  no  charms  for  him.  He 
seldom  read  any.  He  never  wrote  any.  The 
most  that  can  be  said  of  his  verses  is,  that  for 
so  matter-of-fact  a  man  some  of  them  are  very 
good. 


THE  ..      , 


' 


Of  doggerel  he  has  lef  f^ftttyv"  The  lines 
that  stand  at  the  heads  of  the  "monthly  calen 
dars  in  "  Poor  Richard  "  are  his.  There  is 
more  of  the  same  kind  in  the  Gazette.  But 
of  good  verse,  not  six  pieces  are  extant.  The 
Lines  on  .Paper;  the  Drinking  Song  for  the 
Junto,  beginning  "  Fair  Venus  calls  ;  "  "  My 
Plain  Country  Joan  ;  "  "  David's  Lamenta 
tion,"  and  a  humorous  poem  never  published, 
make  up  the  list.  The  unpublished  piece  is 
among  his  papers  in  the  State  Department  at 
Washington. 

After  1740,  Franklin  almost  ceased  to  con 
tribute  essays  to  the  Gazette.  In  1748  he 
sold  it,  with  his  printing-house,  to  his  partner 
David  Hall.  As  a  newspaper  there  is  little  to 
be  said  in  its  behalf.  The  printing  is  well  done, 
for,  as  a  printer,  the  colonies  did  not  produce  his 
equal.  But  as  an  editor,  he  was  outdone,  and 
much  outdone,  by  William  Bradford  of  the 
Journal.  It  seemed  impossible  for  him  to  rise 
above  the  job-printer.  The  years  during  which 
the  printing-house  and  the  Gazette  were  under 
his  control  were  years  of  great  literary  activ 
ity.  During  these  years  the  press  of  Pennsyl 
vania  showed  a  boldness  and  fertility  to  which 
the  press  of  no  other  colony  approached.  The 
classics  were  translated,  magazines  were  begun, 
newspapers  in  foreign  languages  established, 


94  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

German  type  introduced,  and  the  largest  work 
printed  before  the  Revolution  issued.  From 
the  Pennsylvania  press  came,  before  1748, 
"  Epictetus  his  Morals,"  the  first  translation  of 
a  classic  issued  in  America  ;  "  Philadelphische 
Zeitung,"  the  first  German  newspaper;  and 
"  Zionitischer  Weyrauch-Hiigel,"  the  first  book 
printed  from  German  type  ;  the  first  and  second 
monthly  magazine,  and  the  first  book  published 
in  a  European  tongue.  Nor  did  enterprise  end 
here.  In  1764  came  forth  the  first  religious 
periodical,  and  in  1785  the  first  daily  newspaper 
in  North  America.  Yet  for  all  this  activity  we 
owe  nothing  or  next  to  nothing  to  Franklin. 
The  encouragement  he  gave  to  letters  was  not 
by  printing  good  books,  but  by  putting  it  in 
the  power  of  his  poorer  townsmen  to  read 
them. 

To  bring  this  about  he  founded  the  Philadel 
phia  Library.  The  idea  was  not  a  sudden  one. 
When  a  lad  of  one -and -twenty,  in  Keimer's 
employ,  he  formed  his  boon  companions  into 
the  famous  Junto.  The  number  was  limited 
to  twelve,  and  no  one  could  be  a  member  till 
he  had,  with  his  hand  upon  his  heart,  declared 
that  he  loved  mankind;  that  he  thought  no 
man  ought  to  be  harmed  in  body,  name,  or 
goods  because  of  the  opinions  he  held  or  the 
creed  he  followed ;  that  he  loved  truth  for  the 


THE  PENNSYLVANIA   GAZETTE.  95 

sake  of  truth,  should  seek  diligently  for  it,  and 
when  found  make  it  known  to  others.  On  Fri 
day  evenings,  when  the  Junto  met,  it  was  usual 
to  read  through  a  list  of  questions,  which  each 
one  present  must  answer  if  he  could,  and  to 
bring  up  some  matter  for  general  debate.  The 
debates  and  the  questions  often  made  it  neces 
sary  to  bring  a  book,  and  noticing  this,  Franklin 
proposed  that  each  should  bring  all  the  books 
he  owned  and  leave  them  in  the  room  of  the 
Junto  for  the  good  of  all.  This  was  done.  But 
when  a  year  was  gone,  some  of  the  members 
finding  their  books  had  been  badly  treated,  took 
them  away.  Even  for  this  Franklin  had  an 
expedient  ready,  and  suggested  that  fifty  sub 
scribers  be  found  who  were  willing  to  pay  forty 
shillings  down,  and  ten  shillings  a  year  there 
after  for  maintaining  a  library.  The  sugges 
tion  seemed  a  good  one,  and  the  members  of 
the  Junto  were  soon  carrying  round  papers  to 
which  subscribers  set  their  names  but  slowly. 
Five  months  were  spent  in  filling  the  list,  four 
more  went  by  before  the  shillings  were  col 
lected.  But  at  last,  in  March,  1732,  forty-five 
pounds  were  sent  to  London  to  be  laid  out  in 
the  purchase  of  books.  In  October  the  first 
invoice  arrived,  and  the  Library  was  opened  in 
the  room  where  the  Junto  met. 


CHAPTER  IV. 
1732-1748. 

WHEN  the  year  1732  opened,  Franklin's 
career  of  prosperity  may  be  said  to  have  be 
gun.  He  had  ended  his  partnership  "with 
Meredith,  had  paid  his  debts,  had  married  a 
•wife,  set  up  a  newspaper,  and  opened  a  shop, 
which  defies  description,  hard  by  the  market 
place  in  High  Street.  There  were  to  be  had 
imported  books,  legal  blanks,  paper  and  parch 
ment,  Dutch  quills  and  Aleppo  ink,  perfumed 
soap,  Rhode  Island  cheese,  chapbooks  such  as 
the  peddlers  hawked,  pamphlets  such  as  the 
Quakers  read,  live-geese  feathers,  bohea  tea, 
coffee,  very  good  sack,  and  cash  for  old  rags. 
Everything  connected  with  this  miscellaneous 
business  was  carried  on  in  strict  accordance 
with  the  maxims  of  Poor  Richard.  No  idle 
servant  fattened  in  his  house.  His  wife,  in 
such  moments  as  could  be  snatched  from  the 
kitchen  and  the  tub,  folded  newspapers, 
stitched  pamphlets,  and  sold  inkhorns  and 
picket-books,  which,  as  paper-money  drove  out 
the  coin,  came  more  and  more  into  use. 


"POOR  RICHARD."  97 

Franklin   meanwhile  managed  the  printing-       i 
house,   made  lampblack,  cast  type,  made  rude 
cuts  for  the  paper-money  bills,  and  might  be 
seen  at  times  trundling  home  a  wheelbarrow         J 
loaded  with  paper  bought  at  some  neighboring 
merchant's  shop. 

Industrious,  thrifty,  saving,  full  of  hard  com-  / 
mon  sense  and  worldly  wisdom,  he  suffered  no  | 
chance  to  pass  unused,  and  rose  rapidly  to  the 
place  of  chief  printer  in  the  province.  The 
business  of  the  place  in  a  year  would  not  now 
suffice  to  keep  a  journeyman  printer  occupied 
three  months.  Never  since  the  press  had  been 
set  up  in  Pennsylvania  had  all  the  issues  in  any 
one  year  numbered  thirty.  In  1732  they  were 
but  nineteen ;  but  of  the  nineteen,  three,  bear 
ing  the  imprint  of  Franklin,  are  noteworthy. 
One  was  "  Philadelphische  Zeitung,"  the  first 
German  newspaper  printed  in  America.  An 
other  was  "  The  Honour  of  the  Gout,"  a  book 
that  long  afterwards  suggested  the  famous  Dia 
logue  between  Franklin  and  the  Gout.  The 
third  was  the  greatest  of  all  almanacs  — 
"  Poor  Richard." 

The  publication  of  "  Poor  Richard  "  he  was 
tempted  to  undertake  by  the  quick  and  great 
returns  such  pamphlets  were  sure  to  bring  in. 
For  the  mere  copy  of  popular  almanacs,  printers 
were  then  compelled  to  pay  down  in  advance 


98  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

from  twenty  to  thirty  pounds  each  year;  no 
mean  sum  at  a  time  when  the  chief  justice 
was  given  but  one  hundred  pounds  a  year,  when 
the  associate  justice  got  but  fifty  pounds,  and 
when  the  attorney-general  was  forced  to  be 
content  with  sixty. 

Such  prices  could  well  afford  to  be  paid,  for 
the  almanac  was  the  one  piece  of  literature  of 
which  the  sale  was  sure.  Not  a  household  for 
a  hundred  miles  around  the  printer  but,  if  there 
was  sixpence  to  spare,  would  have  a  copy. 
In  remote  towns,  where  money  was  not  to  be 
had,  a  dozen  copies  would  be  bought  with 
potatoes  or  wheat,  and  disposed  of  one  by  one, 
—  at  the  blacksmith's  for  a  few  nails ;  at  the 
tavern  for  rum  ;  at  some  neighbor's  in  payment 
of  a  trifling  debt.  Chapmen  carried  them  in 
their  packs  to  exchange  with  copper  kettles 
and  china  bowls,  for  worsted  stockings  and 
knit  gloves.  They  were  the  diaries,  the  jour 
nals,  the  account  books  of  the  poor.  Strung 
upon  a  stick  and  hung  beside  the  chimney- 
place,  they  formed  an  unbroken  record  of 
domestic  affairs,  in  many  instances  for  thirty 
years.  On  the  margins  of  one  since  picked  up 
at  a  paper  mill  are  recorded  the  interesting 
cases  of  a  physician's  practice,  and  the  names 
of  those  who  suffered  with  the  smallpox  and 
the  flux.  Another  has  become  a  complete 


ALMANAC-MAKERS.  99 

journal  of  farm  life.  A  third  is  filled  with 
verses  written  in  imitation  of  Pope  and  Young. 

It  is  not  by  mere  chance  that  the  second 
piece  of  printing  done  in  the  colonies,  and  the 
first  piece  done  in  the  middle  states,  were 
almanacs.  Samuel  Atkins  told  no  more  than 
plain  truth  when,  in  the  preface  to  "  Kalenda- 
rium  Pennsilvaniense,"  he  declared  that  wher 
ever  he  went  in  his  travels  he  found  the  peo 
ple  so  clamorous  for  an  almanac  that  he  was 
"  really  troubled,"  and  did  design  according  to 
his  knowledge  to  "  pleasure  his  countrymen " 
with  what  they  wanted. 

But  one  attempt  at  almanac-making  was 
enough  for  Atkins,  and  the  next  year  Daniel 
Leeds  took  his  place.  Leeds  describes  himself 
as  a  "  Student  in  Agriculture ; "  but  jack-of- 
all-trades  would  have  been  more  just.  Un 
questionably  a  man  of  parts,  he  was  by  turns 
a  cooper,  a  surveyor-general,  a  member  of  the 
assembly,  a  member  of  the  New  Jersey  pro 
vincial  council,  a  book-maker,  an  almanac- 
maker,  and,  save  one,  the  most  prolific  of  all 
writers  on  the  great  schism  stirred  up  by 
Keith.  Even  now  his  "  News  of  a  Trumpet," 
his  "  Trumpet  Sounded,"  his  "  Hue  and  Cry," 
and  his  "  Great  Mystery  of  Fox-craft  Discov 
ered,"  are  said  to  be  far  from  tedious.  But 
even  Leeds,  shrewd  as  he  was,  had  not  learned 


100  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

the  art  of  almanac-making,  put  in  what  he  in 
tended  for  wit  and  fun,  and  brought  down  upon 
himself  the  anger  of  the  Friends.  The  Burling 
ton  meeting  condemned  his  almanac  and  bade 
him  print  nothing  he  had  not  first  shown  to 
them.  The  Philadelphia  meeting  brought  up 
the  edition,  suppressed  it,  and  not  one  copy  is 
extant.  Leeds  in  alarm  humbled  himself  in  the 
dust,  admitted  that  he  had  sinned,  promised  to 
write  more  soberly  in  the  future,  soon  became 
an  Episcopalian,  and  thenceforth  reviled  and 
was  reviled  by  the  Friends. 

When  Bradford  left  Philadelphia,  Leeds's 
almanac  went  with  him  to  New  York,  and  for 
six  years  no  such  work  was  printed  in  Pennsyl 
vania.  But  with  the  revival  of  printing  in 
1699  a  new  crop  of  philomaths,  students  in 
agriculture,  and  philodespots  sprang  up  and 
flourished  exceedingly.  In  1732  there  were,  in 
Philadelphia  alone,  the  almanacs  of  Evans,  of 
Birkett,  of  Godfrey,  of  Taylor,  of  Jerman,  Der 
Teutsche  Pilgrim,  and  of  Titan  Leeds  so 
exquisitely  ridiculed  in  the  early  issues  of 
"Poor  Richard." 

The  ingredients  of  all  these  books  were  the 
same.  The  title-page  commonly  did  duty  for 
a  table  of  contents.  The  preface  was  devoted 
to  describing  the  merits  of  what  came  after,  to 
sneers  at  the  critics  of  the  last  year's  number, 


"POOR  ROBIN."  101 

and  to  the  abuse  of  the  works  of  rival  philo 
maths.  Following  the  preface  was  the  naked 
man  bestriding  the  globe,  the  calendars  of  the 
months,  the  days  for  holding  courts  and  fairs, 
a  chronology  that  always  went  back  to  Adam, 
a  list  of  British  rulers  in  which  Cromwell  never 
had  a  place,  verses  destitute  of  feet  and  sense, 
and  a  serious  prognostication  of  events  as  fore 
told  by  eclipses  and  the  planets. 

In  writing  their  almanacs,  American  "  philo 
maths  "  without  exception  borrowed  most  freely 
from  English  contemporaries,  and  from  this 
time-honored  usage  Franklin  did  not  depart. 
Richard  Saunders,  who  long  edited  the  "  Apollo 
Angelicanns,"  furnished  the  name  under  which 
he  wrote.  Poor  Robin  supplied  the  hint  for  the 
title,  and  many  ideas  for  the  general  plan. 

"  Poor  Robin  "  was  an  English  comic  alma 
nac  defaced  with  the  indecency  and  licentious 
ness  it  was  then  the  fashion  to  associate  with 
wit,  with  humor,  and  with  broad  fun.  One 
number  is  declared  to  be  "  calculated  to  the 
meridian  of  all  honest  merry  hearts  ;  and  writ 
in  their  language  ;  and  fitted  to  all  latitudes  in 
the  temperate  zone,  where  people  are  neither 
hot  with  passion  nor  cold  with  envy,  and  where 
the  Pole  is  elevated  ninety  degrees  above  scan 
dal  and  detraction."  Another  is  suited  "  to  all 
latitudes  and  capacities  whatsoever,  but  more 


102  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

especially  those  that  have  got  sixpence  to  spare 
to  buy  an  almanac."  A  third  bears  the  title, 
"  Poor  Robin.  A  prognostication  for  the  year 
of  our  Lord  God  1725,  wherein  you  have  a 
scheme  (not  for  a  Lottery,  nor  the  South  Sea) 
but  for  the  use  of  Astrologers,  with  an  account 
of  the  eclipses,  and  a  great  many  more  than 
any  other  almanac  mentions,  with  predictions 
about  courtings,  weddings,  &c.,  the  like  not 
extant." 

The  account  of  the  eclipses  which  no  other 
almanac  mentions  might  have  been  written  by 
Poor  Richard  himself.  Indeed  it  is  closely 
paralleled  in  his  prognostication  for  1739. 

With  a  few  hints  borrowed  from  these  two 
sources,  Franklin  began  the  publication  of 
"  Poor  Richard  "  in  October,  1732.  The  suc 
cess  was  immense.  Before  the  month  ended 
the  first  impression  was  exhausted.  When  the 
year  closed,  the  third  edition  was  offered  for 
sale.  Not  a  little  of  this  popularity  is,  we  be 
lieve,  to  be  ascribed  to  the  air  of  reality  that 
pervades  the  whole  book.  To  those  who  read 
"  Poor  Robin "  then,  as  to  those  who  read 
him  now,  he  was  a  mere  name,  a  mask  to  hide 
another  name.  Poor  Richard  was  a  person, 
almost  as  real  to  those  who  read  him  as  King 
George  or  Governor  Penn,  or  any  of  the  famous 
men  of  whom  they  were  constantly  hearing  but 


MR.  SAUNDERS.  103 

never  meeting  face  to  face.  It  is  high  praise, 
but  not  too  high  praise,  to  say,  that  Mr.  Rich 
ard  Saunders  and  Bridget  his  wife  are  quite  as 
real  as  any  characters  in  the  whole  domain  of 
fiction. 

Indeed  the  prefaces  to  the  almanacs  in  which 
they  appear  form,  collectively,  a  piece  of  prose 
fiction  which  for  humor,  for  sprightliness,  for 
the  knowledge  of  human  nature  displayed,  is 
well  worthy  of  perusal.  In  the  first  of  the 
prefaces  Mr.  Saunders  set  forth  the  reasons  for 
adding  one  more  to  the  long  list  of  almanac- 
makers.  He  might,  he  declares,  assert  the  sole 
aim  he  had  in  view  was  the  public  good.  But 
men  are  not  to  be  deceived  by  such  pretenses, 
and  the  plain  truth  is,  he  is  excessive  poor, 
while  his  wife,  poor  woman,  is  excessive  proud. 
She  could  no  longer  bear  to  sit  spinning  in  her 
shift  of  tow,  while  he  did  nothing  but  gaze  at 
the  stars.  More  than  once  had  she  threatened 
to  burn  his  books  and  rattling-traps  if  he  did 
not  make  some  use  of  them  for  the  good  of  his 
family.  At  last  he  had  complied  with  his 
dame's  desire  and  given  to  the  world  an  alma 
nac,  a  thing  he  would  have  done  long  before 
had  he  not  been  fearful  of  doing  harm  to  his 
old  friend  and  fellow-student  Titan  Leeds.  But 
this  fear  troubled  him  no  longer,  for  Titan 
was  soon  to  be  numbered  with  the  immortals. 


104  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

Death,  never  known  to  respect  merit,  had  al 
ready  prepared  the  mortal  dart ;  the  fatal  sister 
had  already  extended  her  destroying  shears, 
and  that  ingenious  man  must  surely  perish  on 
October  17, 1733,  at  the  very  moment  of  the  6 
of  O  and  5.  Since,  therefore,  the  provinces 
were  to  see  no  more  of  Leeds's  performances, 
he  felt  free  to  take  up  the  task. 

Twenty-seven  years  before,  Jacob  Taylor,  a 
rival  philomath,  described  the  father  of  Titan 
as  "  that  unparalleled  Plagiary  and  unreason 
able  transcriber,  D.  Leeds,  who  hath,  with  a  very 
large  stock  of  impudence,  filched  matter  out  of 
another  man's  works  to  furnish  his  spurious  al 
manacs."  The  description  is  applicable  to  the 
whole  race  of  philomaths,  but  applies  with  es 
pecial  force  to  the  Leeds,  father  and  sons.  But 
Titan  was  the  fool  positive,  and  as  fair  a  butt 
for  wit  as  the  province  produced.  What  a  jest 
was  he  never  knew.  So  he  took  the  pleasantry 
of  Poor  Richard  for  sober  earnest,  and  replied. 
He  denounced  Poor  Richard  as  an  ignorant 
and  presumptuous  predicter,  called  him  a  liar, 
a  fool,  a  conceited  scribbler,  and  declared  that, 
by  God's  blessing,  Titan  Leeds  should  live  and 
write  long  after  Poor  Richard  Saunders  and 
his  almanac  were  dead  and  forgotten. 

This  reply  was  precisely  what  Franklin 
expected,  and  in  the  preface  to  Poor  Richard 


PREFACES  TO  POOR  RICHARD.  105 

for  1734  the  public  is  assured  that,  thanks  to 
its  bounty,  "  Poor  Dick "  is  far  from  dying. 
Now  Bridget  not  only  had  a  pot  of  her  own, 
with  something  to  put  in  it,  but  two  new  shifts, 
a  pair  of  shoes  and  a  new  warm  petticoat, 
while  Richard,  dressed  in  a  good  second-hand 
coat,  was  no  longer  ashamed  to  show  himself  in 
town.  As  for  Titan  Leeds,  he  did  die  at  the 
very  hour  and  minute  predicted.  This  was 
evident  because  of  the  harsh  language  of  his 
pretended  preface,  for  Mr.  Leeds  was  too  civil 
a  man  to  use  an  old  friend  so  shamefully : 
because  the  stars  had  predicted  his  death  and 
they  were  not  to  be  disappointed  ;  because  it 
was  necessary  that  he  should  die  punctually  at 
the  hour  named  for  the  honor  of  astrology,  an 
art  professed  by  him  and  by  his  father  before 
him  ;  and  because  the  almanacs  were  too  bad 
to  be  the  work  of  Titan  Leeds  if  living.  The 
wit  was  low  and  flat.  The  little  hints  were 
dull.  There  was  nothing  smart  in  the  almanac 
but  Hudibras  verses  against  astrology,  which 
no  astrologer  but  a  dead  one  would  ever  have 
inserted.  As  for  the  rest,  no  man  living  could 
or  would  have  written  such  stuff.  Again  Leeds 
took  the  fun  in  earnest  and  replied.  "  Poor 
Richard  "  had  used  him  with  such  good  man 
ners  that  he  hardly  knew  what  to  say.  But 
this  he  would  say  of  Mr.  Saunders's  boasted 


106  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

prosperity :  "  If  Falsehood  and  Ingenuity  be  so 
rewarded,  what  may  he  expect  if  he  be  in  a 
capacity  to  publish  what  is  either  just  or  ac 
cording  to  Art." 

Thus  dismissed,  Leeds  disappears  from  the 
almanacs  for  five  years,  and  the  prefaces  are 
taken  up  with  other  matters.  One  is  given  to 
insisting  that  "Poor  Richard  "  does  exist,  for 
the  public  have  begun  to  suspect  that  he  is 
none  other  than  Franklin.  Another  is  a  de 
fense  of  almanac-makers.  That  some  of  their 
predictions  failed  was  not  amazing.  Without 
any  defect  in  the  art  itself,  it  was  easy  to  see 
that  a  small  error,  a  single  wrong  figure  over 
seen  in  a  long  calculation,  might  cause  great 
mistakes.  But,  however  almanac-makers  might 
miss  it  in  other  things,  it  must  be  allowed  they 
always  hit  the  day  of  the  month,  and  that  after 
all  was  one  of  the  most  useful  things  in  an 
almanac.  As  to  the  weather,  he  never  followed 
the  method  of  his  brother  John  Jerman.  Jer- 
man  would  say,  "  Snow  here  or  in  New  Eng 
land,"  "Rain  here  or  in  South  Carolina," 
"Cold  to  the  Northward,"  "Warm  to  the 
Southward."  This  enabled  him  to  hide  his 
errors.  For  if  it  did  not  rain  here,  who  could 
say  it  did  not  rain  in  New  England.  Poor 
Richard  always  put  down  just  what  the  weather 
will  be  where  the  reader  is,  only  asking  for  an 


PREFACES   TO  POOR  RICHARD.  107 

allowance  of  a  day  or  two  before  and  a  day  or 
two  after.  If  the  prediction  failed  then,  why 
like  enough  the  printer  had  transferred  or  mis 
placed  it  to  make  room  for  his  holidays.  As 
the  public  would  give  Mr.  Printer  credit  for 
making  the  almanacs,  let  him  also  take  some  of 
the  blame. 

A  third  explains  how  astrologers  determine 
what  the  weather  will  be,  and  is  just  witty 
enough  and  coarse  enough  to  have  been  thought 
good  reading. 

A  fourth  was  from  the  hand  of  Bridget 
Saunders.  Her  good  man  had  set  out  for  the 
Potomac  to  meet  an  old  Stargazer.  Before 
going  he  left  a  copy  of  his  almanac  sealed  up 
and  bade  her  send  it  to  the  printer.  Suspect 
ing  something  was  wrong,  she  opened  it  to  see 
if  he  had  not  been  flinging  some  of  his  old 
skits  at  her.  So  it  was.  Peascods  !  could  she 
not  have  a  little  fault  but  the  world  must  be 
told  of  it?  They  had  already  been  told  that 
she  was  proud  ;  that  she  was  poor  ;  that  she 
had  a  new  petticoat,  and  abundance  more  of 
the  like  stuff.  Now  they  must  know  she  had 
taken  a  fancy  to  drink  a  little  tea.  She  had  cut 
this  nonsense  out.  Looking  over  the  months, 
she  found  a  great  quantity  of  foul  weather. 
She  had  cut  this  out  also,  and  put  in  fine 
weather  for  housewives  to  dry  their  clothes  in. 


108  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

Yet  another  preface  is  written  by  the  ghost 
of  his  old  friend  Titan  Leeds. 

Leeds  by  this  time  was  really  dead,  and  that 
the  world  might  know  the  letter  to  be  the  work 
of  his  ghost,  the  ghost  made  three  predictions 
for  the  coming  year.  A  certain  well-known 
character  would  remain  sober  for  nine  consecu 
tive  hours,  to  the  great  astonishment  of  his 
friends;  William  and  Andrew  Bradford  would 
put  out  another  "Leeds'  Almanac"  just  as  if 
Leeds  were  still  alive  ;  and  that  John  Jerman 
on  the  17th  of  September  would  become  recon 
ciled  to  the  Church  of  Rome.  On  the  fulfil 
ment  of  these  predictions  rested  the  truth  of 
the  ghost. 

Jerman  for  twenty  years  past  had  been  the 
author  of  a  Quaker  almanac,  and  had  for  about 
the  same  time  been  engaged  in  a  fierce  almanac 
warfare  with  Jacob  Taylor,  a  philomath  and  a 
printer  of  Friends'  books.  Jerman  seems  to 
have  been  as  thick-headed  as  Leeds,  took  the 
same  course  as  Leeds,  repelled  the  charge,  and 
the  next  year  boasted  that  he  had  not  gone 
over  to  Rome,  and  denounced  Poor  Richard  as 
one  of  the  false  prophets  of  Baal.  He  could 
have  done  nothing  more  to  Poor  Richard's 
mind  ;  and  in  the  preface  to  "  Poor  Richard  " 
for  1742  the  whole  town  read  with  delight  the 
evidence  of  Jerman's  conversion,  which,  despite 


PREFACES  TO  POOR  RICHARD.  109 

his  declaring  and  protesting,  "  is,  I  fear,"  said 
Mr.  Saunders,  "  too  true."  Two  things  in  the 
elegiac  verses  confirmed  this  suspicion.  The 
1st  of  November  was  called  All-Hallows  Day. 
Did  not  this  smell  of  Popery  ?  Did  it  in  the 
least  savor  of  the  plain  language  of  Friends? 
But  the  plainest  evidence  of  all  was  the  adora 
tion  of  saints  which  Jerman  confessed  to  be  his 
practice  in  the  lines  — 

"  When  any  trouble  did  me  befall 
To  my  dear  Mary  then  I  would  call." 

•"  Did  he  think  the  whole  world  was  so  stupid 
as  not  to  notice  this  ?  So  ignorant  as  not  to 
know  that  all  Catholics  paid  the  highest  regard 
to  the  Virgin  Mary  ?  Ah,  friend  John,  we  must 
allow  you  to  be  a  poet,  but  you  certainly  are 
no  Protestant.  I  could  heartily  wish  your  reli 
gion  were  as  good  as  your  verses." 

With  this  the  humorous  prefaces  cease,  and 
their  place  is  taken  by  short  pieces,  which,  as 
Poor  Richard  said,  were  likely  to  do  more  good 
than  three  hundred  and  seventy-five  prefaces 
written  by  himself.  These  pieces  were  com 
monly  borrowed  from  standard  works,  and  con 
tain  hints  for  growing  timber,  for  fencing,  and 
accounts  of  how  people  live  on  the  shores  of 
Hudson  Bay  and  under  the  Tropic  of  Cancer. 

The  humor  of  the  almanacs  is  by  no  means 
confined  to  the  prefaces.  The  books  abound 


110  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

in  wit  and  in  wit  noticeable  for  its  modern 
character.  Now  it  appears  in  some  doggerel 
verses  at  the  heads  of  the  pages  ;  now  in  the 
turn  given  to  a  maxim,  as,  "  Never  take  a  wife 
till  you  have  a  house  (and  a  fire)  to  put  her 
in ;  "  now  in  some  pretended  prognostication, 
as  that  for  August,  1739,  "  Ships  sailing  down 
the  Delaware  Bay  this  month  shall  hear  at  ten 
leagues'  distance  a  confused  rattling  noise  like 
a  swarm  of  hail  on  a  cake  of  ice.  Don't  be 
frightened,  good  passengers,  the  sailors  can  in 
form  you  that  'tis  nothing  but  Lower  County 
teeth  in  the  ague.  In  a  southerly  wind  you 
may  hear  it  at  Philadelphia." 

In  1748  the  size  of  the  almanac  was  much 
enlarged,  and  the  name  changed  to  "  Poor 
Richard  Improved."  After  1748  it  is  quite 
likely  "  Poor  Richard  ''  was  no  longer  written 
by  Franklin.  While  still  in  his  hands,  Frank 
lin  contributed  to  its  pages  some  of  the  brief 
pieces  by  which  he  is  best  known.  Scattered 
among  profitable  observations,  eclipses,  and 
monthly  calendars  are  to  be  found  his  "  Hints 
for  those  that  would  be  Rich,"  his  "  Rules  of 
Health,"  his  "  Plan  for  saving  one  hundred 
thousand  pounds  to  New  Jersey,"  and  his  mas 
terpiece,  "Father  Abraham's  Address." 

In  the  first  number  of  "Poor  Richard," 
Franklin  adopted  the  custom,  long  common 


MAXIMS   OF  POOR  RICHARD.  Ill 

among  "philomaths,"  of  filling  the  spaces  be 
tween  the  remarkable  days  in  the  monthly  cal 
endars  with  maxims  of  thrift,  saws,  and  pithy 
sayings,  the  purpose  of  which  has  been  stated 
by  Franklin  himself.  "  Observing  that  it 
["  Poor  Richard  "]  was  generally  read,  scarce 
any  neighborhood  in  the  province  being  with 
out  it,  I  considered  it  as  a  proper  vehicle  for 
conveying  instruction  among  the  common  peo 
ple  who  bought  scarcely  any  other  book.  I 
therefore  filled  all  the  little  spaces  that  oc 
curred  between  the  remarkable  days  in  the  cal 
endar  with  proverbial  sentences,  chiefly  such  as 
inculcated  industry  and  frugality,  as  the  means 
of  procuring  wealth  and  thereby  securing  vir 
tue  ;  it  being  more  difficult  for  a  man  in  want 
to  act  always  honestly,  as,  to  use  here  one  of 
those  proverbs,  '  It  is  hard  for  an  empty  sack 
to  stand  upright.' " 

But  the  difference  between  such  sayings  as 
set  forth  by  Poor  Richard,  and  such  sayings  as 
set  forth  by  Jerman  or  Leeds,  is  often  just  the 
difference  between  sense  and  nonsense,  meaning 
and  jibberish.  It  is  hardly  possible  to  read  a 
page  of  Leeds  without  being  told  that  "There  's 
knavery  in  the  wind ;  "  that  "  The  cat  ate  the 
candle  ;  "  that  "  Cully,  Mully,  Puff  appears ;  " 
and  that  "  The  World  is  bad  with  somebody." 
Of  this  sort  of  folly  Mr.  Saunders  was  never 


112  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

guilty.  And  even  when  Leeds  did  drop  into 
sense  and  meaning,  what  he  says  can  always 
be  found  better  said  by  Poor  Richard.  "  Ne 
cessity,"  says  Leeds,  "is  a  mighty  weapon." 
"Necessity,"  says  Poor  Richard,  "  never  made 
a  good  bargain."  "  Be  careful  of  the  main 
chance,"  says  Leeds,  "  or  it  will  never  take 
care  of  you;"  "Keep  thy  shop,"  says  Poor 
Dick,  "  and  thy  shop  will  keep  thee."  "  'T  is 
best,"  says  Leeds,  "  to  make  a  good  use  of  an 
other's  folly."  "  Fools,"  says  Poor  Richard, 
"  make  feasts,  and  wise  men  eat  them."  "  Bad 
hours  and  ill  company  have  ruined  many  fine 
young  people,"  says  Leeds.  Put  into  the  lan 
guage  of  Poor  Richard  this  becomes,  "  The 
rotten  apple  spoils  his  companion." 

For  wisdom  of  this  kind  Franklin  claimed 
neither  reading  nor  invention.  Much  he  took 
bodily  from  Poor  Robin  and  Gadbury,  who  in 
turn  took  them  from  Ray.1  Much  more  he 

1  Ray's  book,  called  A  Collection  of  English  Proverbs,  was 
printed  at  Cambridge,  1678.  A  few  proverbs  will  serve  as 
examples. 

RAY.  POOR    RICHARD. 

God  healeth  and  the  physi-  God  heals  and  the  doctor 
cian  hath  the  thanks.  takes  the  fee. 

Marry  your  sons  when  you  Marry  your  sons  when  you 
will;  your  daughters  when  will;  but  your  daughters  when 
you  can.  you  can. 

God  sends  meat  and  the  Bad  commentation  spoils 
devil  cooks.  the  best  of  books : 

So  God  sends  meat   (they 
say)  the  devil  cooks. 


MAXIMS   OF  POOR  RICHARD.  113 


. 

borrowed  from  humbler  writers  and  dressed  in 
his  own  words.  But  wherever  it  came  from, 
there  can  be  no  doubt  that  it  had  much  to  do 
with  the  immense  popularity  of  the  almanac. 
Mr.  Saunders  became  a  personage  as  well 
known  in  that  age  as  Josh  Billings  and  Mrs. 
Partington  in  ours.  He  became  a  type,  and 
more  than  one  piece  of  wisdom  he  never  was 
guilty  of  writing  owed  its  currency  to  the 
words  "  As  Poor  Richard  says."  His  sayings 
passed  into  the  daily  speech  of  the  people,  were 
quoted  in  sermons,  were  printed  on  the  title- 
pages  of  pamphlets  and  used  as  mottoes  by 
the  newspaper  moralists  of  the  day,  and  con 
tinued  down  even  to  the  Revolution  to  be  read 
with  avidity.  Then,  in  an  hour  of  great  need, 
a  copy  of  one  of  the  almanacs  fell  into  the 
hands  of  Paul  -Jones  of  glorious  memory.  The 
story  is  told,  that,  after  his  famous  victory  in 
"  The  Ranger,"  he  went  to  Brest  to  await  the 
coming  of  the  new  ship  so  often  promised  him  ; 
that  month  after  month  he  was  tormented  by 
excuses  and  delays  ;  that  he  wrote  to  Franklin, 
to  the  royal  family,  to  the  King,  begging  that 
a  vessel  might  be  given  him  ;  that,  wellnigh 
distracted,  he  happened  to  pick  up  a  copy  of 
"  Poor  Richard,"  and  read,  "  If  you  would  have 

See  a  note  by  Dr.  S.  A.  Green,  iu  Hist.  Magazine,  Jan'y, 
1860,  pp.  16,  17, 


114  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

your  business  done,  go ;  if  not,  send  ;  "  that  he 
took  the  hint,  hurried  to  Versailles,  and  there 
got  an  order  for  the  purchase  of  the  ship  which 
he  renamed,  in  honor  of  his  teacher,  u  Bon 
Homme  Richard." 

Nothing,  perhaps,  shows  the  fondness  of  the 
people  for  the  sayings  of  Mr.  Saunders  better 
than  the  history  of  that  famous  piece  in  which 
the  best  of  them  are  brought  together.  It 
came  out  in  a  day  of  darkness  and  of  gloom. 
The  French  and  Indian  war  had  been  raging 
for  four  years  ;  and  success  was  still  with  the 
French.  Washington  had  been  driven  from 
Fort  Necessity.  Braddock  had  perished  in  the 
woods.  The  venture  against  Niagara  had  failed. 

O  O 

That  against  Ticonderoga  had  done  little. 
The  sea  swarmed  with  French  and  Spanish 
privateers.  Trade  was  dull.  Taxes  were  heavy. 
Grumbling  was  everywhere.  Men  of  all  sorts 
bemoaned  the  hard  times.  The  war  ought  to 
stop.  The  assemblies,  the  grumblers  said,  ought 
to  put  out  more  credit  bills.  The  mother  coun 
try  ought  to  pay  the  cost  of  colonial  troops. 
Were  every  one  of  these  remedies  used  they 
could  not,  Franklin  thought,  cure  the  hard 
times.  Economy  and  thrift  alone  could  do  so. 
Here  then  was  a  fine  chance  for  a  sermon  by 
"Poor  Richard  "  with  a  reasonable  hope  of  be 
ing  heard.  A  sermon  was  accordingly  written, 


FATHER  ABRAHAM'S  SPEECH.  115 

put  in  the  mouth  of  a  wise  old  man  called  Fa 
ther  Abraham,  and  published  in  the  almanac 
for  1758.  It  was  pretended  that  "  Poor  Rich 
ard  "  had  heard  the  speech  at  an  auction.  A 
fitter  place  Father  Abraham  could  not  have 
chosen  ;  for  the  auctions  of  those  days  were 
shameful  scenes  of  extravagance  and  folly. 
Called  thither  by  bell  and  crier,  the  people 
gathered  long  before  the  hour  named,  were  plied 
with  rum  at  the  cost  of  the  vendue  master  till, 
when  the  sale  opened,  they  offered  bids  and 
paid  prices  such  as  never  would  have  been  had 
from  them  in  their  sober  senses.  To  a  throng 
of  this  sort  Father  Abraham  spoke.  What  he 
said,  with  a  few  words  by  "Poor  Richard,"  is 
as  follows :  — 

I  have  heard,  that  nothing  gives  an  author  so  great 
pleasure  as  to  find  his  works  respectfully  quoted  by 
other  learned  authors.  This  pleasure  I  have  seldom 
enjoyed ;  for,  though  I  have  been,  if  I  may  say  it 
without  vanity,  an  eminent  author  (of  almanacs) 
annually,  now,  a  full  quarter  of  a  century,  my  brother 
authors  in  the  same  way,  for  what  reason  I  know 
not,  have  ever  been  very  sparing  in  their  applauses ; 
and  no  other  author  has  taken  the  least  notice  of  me ; 
so  that,  did  not  my  writings  produce  me  some  solid 
pudding,  the  great  deficiency  of  praise  would  have 
quite  discouraged  me.  I  concluded,  at  length,  that 
the  people  were  the  best  judges  of  my  merit,  for  they 


116  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

buy  my  works  ;  and  besides,  in  my  rambles,  where  T 
am  riot  personally  known,  I  have  frequently  heard 
one  or  other  of  my  adages  repeated,  with  "  As 
Poor  Richard  says,"  at  the  end  on  't.  This  gave  me 
some  satisfaction,  as  it  showed  not  only  that  my 
instructions  were  regarded,  but  discovered  likewise 
some  respect  for  my  authority  ;  and  I  own,  that,  to 
encourage  the  practice  of  remembering  and  reading 
those  wise  sentences,  I  have  sometimes  quoted  myself 
with  great  gravity.  Judge,  then,  how  much  I  must 
have  been  gratified  by  an  incident  I  am  going  to 
relate  to  you.  I  stopped  my  horse  lately,  where  a 
great  number  of  people  were  collected  at  an  auction 
of  merchants'  goods.  The  hour  of  the  sale  not  being 
come,  they  were  conversing  on  the  badness  of  the 
times ;  and  one  of  the  company  called  to  a  plain, 
clean,  old  man,  with  white  locks,  "  Pray,  Father 
Abraham,  what  think  you  of  the  times  ?  will  not 
these  heavy  taxes  quite  ruin  the  country  ;  how  shall 
we  ever  be  able  to  pay  them  ?  What  would  you 
advise  us  to  do  ?  "  Father  Abraham  stood  up,  and 
replied, "  If  you  would  have  my  advice,  I  will  give 
it  to  you  in  short ;  for,  A  word  to  the  wise  is  enough, 
as  Poor  Richard  says."  They  joined  in  desiring  him 
to  speak  his  mind,  and  gathering  around  him,  he  pro 
ceeded  as  follows  :  — 

"  Friends,"  said  he,  "  the  taxes  are  indeed  very 
heavy,  and,  if  those  laid  on  by  the  government  were 
the  only  ones  we  had  to  pay,  we  might  more  easily 
discharge  them  ;  but  we  have  many  others,  and  much 
more  grievous  to  some  of  us.  We  are  taxed  twice 


FATHER  ABRAHAM'S  SPEECH.  117 

as  much  by  our  idleness,  three  times  as  much  by  our 
pride,  and  four  times  as  much  by  our  folly ;  and  from 
these  taxes  the  commissioners  can  not  ease  or  deliver 
us,  by  allowing  an  abatement.  However,  let  us 
hearken  to  good  advice,  and  something  may  be  done 
for  us  ;  God  helps  them  that  help  themselves,  as 
Poor  Richard  says. 

"  I.  It  would  be  thought  a  hard  government  that 
should  task  its  people  one  tenth  part  of  their  time, 
to  be  employed  in  its  service ;  but  idleness  taxes 
many  of  us  much  more ;  sloth,  by  bringing  on 
diseases,  absolutely  shortens  life.  Sloth,  like  rust, 
consumes  faster  than  labor  wears  ;  while  the  used 
key  is  always  bright,  as  Poor  Richard  says.  But 
dost  thou  love  life,  then  do  not  squander  time,  for 
that  is  the  stuff  life  is  made  of,  as  Poor  Richard 
says.  How  much  more  than  is  necessary  do  we 
spend  in  sleep,  forgetting  that  The  sleeping  fox 
catches  no  poultry,  and  that  There  will  be  sleeping 
enough  in  the  grave,  as  Poor  Richard  says. 

"  If  time  be  of  all  things  the  most  precious,  wast 
ing  time  must  be,  as  Poor  Richard  says,  the  greatest 
prodigality  ;  since,  as  he  elsewhere  tells  us,  Lost  time 
is  never  found  again ;  and  what  we  call  time  enough 
always  proves  little  enough.  Let  us  then  be  up  and 
be  doing,  and  doing  to  the  purpose ;  so  by  diligence 
shall  we  do  more  with  less  perplexity.  Sloth  makes 
all  things  different,  but  industry,  all  easy  ;  and  He 
that  riseth  late  must  trot  all  day,  and  shall  scarce  over 
take  his  business  at  night ;  while  Laziness  travels  so 
slowly  that  Poverty  soon  overtakes  him.  Drive  thy 


118  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

business,  let  not  that  drive  thee ;  and  Early  to  bed, 
and  early  to  rise,  makes  a  man  healthy,  wealthy,  and 
wise,  as  Poor  Richard  says. 

"  So  what  signifies  wishing  and  hoping  for  better 
times  ?  We  make  these  times  better,  if  we  bestir 
ourselves.  Industry  need  not  wish,  and  he  that  lives 
upon  hopes  will  die  fasting.  There  are  no  gains 
without  pains  ;  then  help,  hands,  for  I  have  no  lands ; 
or,  if  I  have,  they  are  smartly  taxed.  He  that  hath 
a  trade,  hath  an  estate ;  and  he  that  hath  a  calling, 
hath  an  office  of  profit  and  honor,  as  Poor  Richard 
says  ;  but  then  the  trade  must  be  worked  at,  and  the 
calling  followed,  or  neither  the  estate  nor  the  office 
will  enable  us  to  pay  our  taxes.  If  we  are  industrious, 
we  shall  never  starve;  for,  At  the  workingman's 
house  hunger  looks  in,  but  dares  not  enter.  Nor  will 
the  bailiff  or  the  constable  enter  ;  for,  Industry  pays 
debts,  while  despair  increaseth  them.  What  though 
you  have  found  no  treasure,  nor  has  any  rich  rela 
tion  left  you  a  legacy ;  Diligence  is  the  mother  of 
good  luck,  and  God  gives  all  things  to  Industry. 
Then  plow  deep  while  sluggards  sleep,  and  you  shall 
have  corn  to  sell  and  to  keep.  Work  while  it  is 
called  to-day,  for  you  know  not  how  much  you  may 
be  hindered  to-morrow.  One  to-day  is  worth  two  to 
morrows,  as  Poor  Richard  says ;  and  further,  Never 
leave  that  till  to-morrow  which  you  can  do  to-day. 
If  you  were  a  servant,  would  you  not  be  ashamed 
that  a  good  master  should  catch  you  idle  ?  Are  you 
then  your  own  master  ?  Be  ashamed  to  catch  your 
self  idle,  when  there  is  so  much  to  be  done  for  your- 


FATHER  ABRAHAM'S  SPEECH.  119 

self,  your  family,  your  country,  your  king.  Handle 
your  tools  without  mittens  ;  remember  that  The  cat  in 
gloves  catches  no  mice,  as  Poor  Richard  says.  It  is 
true  there  is  much  to  be  done,  and  perhaps  you  are 
weak-handed ;  but  stick  to  it  steadily,  and  you  will 
see  great  effects  ;  for,  Constant  dropping  wears  away 
stones ;  and  By  diligence  and  patience  the  mouse 
ate  in  two  the  cable ;  and  Little  strokes  fell  great 
oaks. 

"  Methinks  I  hear  some  of  you  say,  Must  a  man 
afford  himself  no  leisure  ?  I  will  tell  thee,  my  friend, 
what  Poor  Richard  says :  Employ  thy  time  well,  if 
thou  meanest  to  gain  leisure  ;  and  since  thou  art  not 
sure  of  a  minute,  throw  not  away  an  hour.  Leisure  is 
time  for  doing  something  useful ;  this  leisure  the  dili 
gent  man  will  obtain,  but  the  lazy  man  never  ;  for,  A 
life  of  leisure  and  a  life  of  laziness  are  two  things. 
Many,  without  labor,  would  live  by  their  wits  only, 
but  they  break  for  want  of  stock  ;  whereas,  industry 
gives  comfort,  and  plenty,  and  respect.  Fly  pleas 
ures  and  they  will  follow  you.  The  diligent  spinner 
has  a  large  shift ;  and  now  I  have  a  sheep  and  a  cow, 
every  one  bids  me  good-morrow. 

"  II.  But  with  our  industry  we  must  likewise  be 
steady  and  careful,  and  oversee  our  own  affairs  with 
our  own  eyes,  and  not  trust  too  much  to  others ;  for, 
as  poor  Richard  says,  — 

I  never  saw  an  oft-removed  tree, 

Nor  yet  an  oft-removed  family, 

That  throve  so  well  as  those  that  settled  be. 

And  again,  Three  removes  are  as  bad  as  a  fire  ;  and 


120  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

again,  Keep  thy  shop,  and  thy  shop  will  keep  thee ; 
and  again,  If  you  would  have  your  business  done,  go  ; 
if  not,  send.  And  again,  — 

He  that  by  the  plough  would  thrive, 
Himself  must  either  hold  or  drive. 

And  again,  The  eye  of  the  master  will  do  more  work 
than  both  his  hands  ;  and  again,  Want  of  care  does 
us  more  damage  than  want  of  knowledge  ;  and  again, 
Not  to  oversee  workmen,  is  to  leave  thein  your  purse 
open.  Trusting  too  much  to  others'  care  is  the  ruin 
of  many  ;  for,  In  the  affairs  of  this  world  men  are 
saved,  not  by  faith  but  by  the  want  of  it;  but  a 
man's  own  care  is  profitable ;  for,  If  you  would  have 
a  faithful  servant,  and  one  that  you  like,  serve  your 
self.  A  little  neglect  may  breed  great  mischief; 
for  want  of  a  nail  the  shoe  was  lost ;  for  want  of  a 
shoe  the  horse  was  lost ;  and  for  want  of  a  horse 
the  rider  was  lost,  being  overtaken  and  slain  by  the 
enemy  ;  all  for  want  of  a  little  care  about  a  horse 
shoe  nail. 

"  III.  So  much  for  industry,  my  friends,  and  at 
tention  to  one's  own  business ;  but  to  these  we  must 
add  frugality,  if  we  would  make  our  industry  more 
certainly  successful.  A  man  may,  if  he  knows  not 
how  to  save  as  he  gets,  keep  his  nose  all  his  life  to 
the  grindstone,  and  die  not  worth  a  groat  at  last.  A 
fat  kitchen  makes  a  lean  will ;  and  — 

Many  estates  are  spent  in  the  getting, 
Since  women  forsook  spinning  nnd  knitting, 
And  men  for  punch  forsook  hewing  and  splitting. 

If  you  would  be  wealthy,  think  of  saving  as  well  as 


FATHER  ABRAHAM'S  SPEECH.  121 

of  getting.  The  Indies  have  not  made  Spain  rich, 
because  her  outgoes  are  greater  than  her  incomes. 

"  Away  then  with  your  expensive  follies,  and  you 
will  not  then  have  so  much  cause  to  complain  of  hard 
times,  heavy  taxes,  and  chargeable  families  ;  for  — 
Women  and  wine,  game  and  deceit, 
Make  the  wealth  small  and  the  want  great. 

And  further,  What  maintains  one  vice  would  bring 
up  two  children.  You  may  think,  perhaps,  that  a 
little  tea  or  a  little  punch  now  and  then,  diet  a  little 
more  costly,  clothes  a  little  finer,  and  a  little  enter 
tainment  now  and  then,  can  be  no  great  matter ;  but 
remember,  Many  a  little  makes  a  mickle.  Beware 
of  little  expenses  ;  A  small  leak  will  sink  a  great 
ship,  as  Poor  Richard  says ;  and  again,  Who  dainties 
love  shall  beggars  prove  ;  and  moreover,  Fools  make 
feasts  and  wise  men  eat  them. 

"  Here  you  are  all  got  together  at  this  sale  of  fin 
eries  and  knick-knacks.  You  call  them  goods  ;  but, 
if  you  do  not  take  care,  they  will  prove  evils  to  some 
of  you.  You  expect  they  will  be  sold  cheap,  and 
perhaps  they  may  for  less  than  they  cost ;  but,  if  you 
have  no  occasion  for  them,  they  must  be  dear  to  you. 
Remember  what  Poor  Richard  says :  Buy  what  thou 
hast  no  need  of,  and  ere  long  thou  shalt  sell  thy  ne 
cessaries.  And  again,  At  a  great  pennyworth  pause 
a  while.  He  means,  that  perhaps  the  cheapness  is 
apparent  only,  and  not  real ;  or,  the  bargain,  by 
straitening  thee  in  thy  business,  may  do  thee  more 
harm  than  good.  For  in  another  place  he  says, 
Many  have  been  ruined  by  buying  good  pennyworths. 


122  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

Again,  It  is  foolish  to  lay  out  money  in  a  purchase 
of  repentance ;  and  yet,  this  folly  is  practised  every 
day  at  auctions,  for  want  of  minding  the  Almanac. 
Many  a  one,  for  the  sake  of  finery  on  the  back,  have 
gone  with  a  hungry  belly  and  half-starved  their  fam 
ilies.  Silks  and  satins,  scarlet  and  velvets,  put  out 
the  kitchen  fire,  as  Poor  Richard  says. 

"  These  are  not  the  necessaries  of  life ;  they  can 
scarcely  be  called  the  conveniences  ;  and  yet,  only 
because  they  look  pretty,  how  many  want  to  have 
them.  By  these,  and  other  extravagances,  the  gen 
teel  are  reduced  to  poverty,  and  forced  to  borrow  of 
those  whom  they  formerly  despised,  but  who,  through 
industry  and  frugality,  have  maintained  their  stand 
ing  ;  in  which  case  it  appears  plainly,  that  A  plow 
man  on  his  legs  is  higher  than  a  gentleman  on  his 
knees,  as  Poor  Richard  says.  Perhaps  they  have  a 
small  estate  left  them  which  they  knew  not  the  get 
ting  of ;  they  think,  It  is  day  and  it  never  will  be 
night :  that  a  little  to  be  spent  out  of  so  much  is  not 
worth  minding;  but  Always  taking  out  of  the  meal- 
tub,  and  never  putting  in,  soon  comes  to  the  bottom, 
as  Poor  Richard  says ;  and  then,  When  the  well  is 
dry,  they  know  the  worth  of  water.  But  this  they 
might  have  known  before,  if  they  had  taken  his  ad 
vice.  If  you  would  know  the  value  of  money,  go  and 
try  to  borrow  some ;  for  He  that  goes  a-borrowing 
goes  a-sorrowing,  as  Poor  Richard  says  ;  and,  indeed, 
so  does  he  that  lends  to  such  people,  when  he  goes  to 
get  it  in  again.  Poor  Dick  further  advises,  and 


FATHER  ABRAHAM'S  SPEECH.  123 

Fond  pride  of  dress  is  sure  a  very  curse ; 
Ere  fancy  you  consult,  consult  your  purse. 

And  again,  Pride  is  as  loud  a  beggar  as  Want,  and 
a  great  deal  more  saucy.  When  you  have  bought 
one  fine  thing,  you  must  buy  ten  more,  that  your  ap 
pearance  may  be  all  of  a  piece ;  but  Poor  Dick 
says,  It  is  easier  to  suppress  the  first  desire,  than  to 
satisfy  all  that  follow  it.  And  it  is  as  truly  folly  for 
the  poor  to  ape  the  rich,  as  for  the  frog  to  swell  in 
order  to  equal  the  ox. 

Vessels  large  may  venture  more, 

But  little  boats  should  keep  near  shore. 

It  is,  however,  a  folly  soon  punished ;  for,  as  Poor 
Richard  says,  Pride  that  dines  on  vanity,  sups  on  con 
tempt.  Pride  breakfasted  with  Plenty,  dined  with 
Poverty,  and  supped  with  Infamy.  And,  after  all,  of 
what  use  is  this  pride  of  appearance,  for  which  so 
much  is  risked,  so  much  is  suffered  ?  It  cannot  pro 
mote  health,  nor  ease  pain ;  it  makes  no  increase  of 
merit  in  the  person ;  it  creates  envy ;  it  hastens 
misfortune. 

"  But  what  madness  must  it  be  to  run  in  debt  for 
these  superfluities?  We  are  offered  by  the  terms  of 
this  sale,  six  months  credit ;  and  that,  perhaps,  has 
induced  some  of  us  to  attend  it,  because  we  cannot 
spare  the  ready  money,  and  hope  now  to  be  fine  with 
out  it.  But,  ah  !  think  what  you  do  when  you  run 
in  debt ;  you  give  to  another  power  over  your  liberty. 
If  you  cannot  pay  at  the  time,  you  will  be  ashamed 
to  see  your  creditor ;  you  will  be  in  fear  when  you 
speak  to  him ;  you  will  make  poor,  pitiful,  sneaking 


124  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

excuses,  and,  by  degrees,  come  to  lose  your  verac 
ity,  and  sink  into  base,  downright  lying;  for  The 
second  vice  is  lying,  the  first  is  running  in  debt,  as 
Poor  Richard  says  ;  and  again,  to  the  same  purpose, 
Lying  rides  upon  Debt's  back ;  whereas,  a  free-born 
Englishman  ought  not  to  be  ashamed  nor  afraid  to  see 
or  speak  to  any  man  living.  But  poverty  often  de 
prives  a  man  of  all  spirit  and  virtue.  It  is  hard  for 
an  empty  bag  to  stand  upright. 

"  What  would  you  think  of  that  prince,  or  of  that 
government,  who  should  issue  an  edict  forbidding  you 
to  dress  like  a  gentleman  or  gentlewoman,  on  pain  of 
imprisonment  or  servitude  ?  Would  you  not  say  that 
you  were  free,  have  a  right  to  dress  as  you  please, 
and  that  such  an  edict  would  be  a  breach  of  your 
privileges,  and  such  a  government  tyrannical?  And 
yet  you  are  about  to  put  yourself  under  such  tyranny, 
when  you  run  in  debt  for  such  dress.  Your  creditor 
has  authority,  at  his  pleasure,  to  deprive  you  of  your 
liberty,  by  confining  you  in  gaol  till  you  shall  be  able 
to  pay  him.  When  you  have  got  your  bargain,  you 
may,  perhaps,  think  little  of  payment;  but,  as  Poor 
Richard  says,  creditors  have  better  memories  than 
debtors ;  creditors  are  a  superstitious  sect,  great  ob 
servers  of  set  days  and  times.  The  day  comes  round 
before  you  are  aware,  and  the  demand  is  made  before 
you  are  prepared  to  satisfy  it ;  or,  if  you  bear  your 
debt  in  mind,  the  term,  which  at  first  seemed  so  long, 
will,  as  it  lessens,  appear  extremely  short.  Time 
will  seem  to  have  added  wings  to  his  heels  as  well  as 
his  shoulders.  Those  have  a  short  Lent,  who  owe 


FATHER  ABRAHAM1 8  SPEECH.      125 

money  to  be  paid  at  Easter.  At  present,  perhaps, 
you  may  think  yourselves  in  thriving  circumstances, 
abd  that  you  can  bear  a  little  extravagance  without 
injury  ;  but  — 

For  age  and  want  save  while  you  may; 
No  morning  sun  lasts  a  whole  day. 

Gain  may  be  temporary  and  uncertain,  but  ever, 
while  you  live,  expense  is  constant  and  certain  ;  and 
It  is  easier  to  build  two  chimneys,  than  to  keep  one 
in  fuel,  as  Poor  Richard  says ;  so,  Rather  go  to  bed 
supperless,  than  rise  in  debt. 

Get  what  you  can,  and  what  you  get  hold ; 

"Tis  the  stone  that  will  turn  all  your  lead  into  gold. 

And  when  you  have  got  the  Philosopher's  stone, 
sure  you  will  no  longer  complain  of  bad  times,  or  the 
difficulty  of  paying  taxes. 

"  IV.  This  doctrine,  my  friends,  is  reason  and 
wisdom ;  but,  after  all,  do  not  depend  too  much  upon 
your  own  industry,  and  frugality,  and  prudence, 
though  excellent  things  ;  for  they  may  all  be  blasted, 
without  the  blessing  of  Heaven  ;  and,  therefore,  ask 
that  blessing  humbly,  and  be  not  uncharitable  to 
those  that  at  present  seem  to  want  it,  but  comfort 
and  help  them.  Remember,  Job  suffered,  and  was 
afterwards  prosperous. 

"  And  now,  to  conclude,  Experience  keeps  a  dear 
school,  but  fools  will  learn  in  no  other,  as  Poor 
Richard  says,  and  scarce  in  that ;  for,  it  is  true,  we 
may  give  advice,  but  we  cannot  give  conduct.  How 
ever,  remember  this  :  They  that  will  not  be  counselled 


126  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

cannot  be  helped  ;  and  further,  that,  If  you  will  not 
hear  Reason,  she  will  surely  rap  your  knuckles,  as 
Poor  Richard  says." 

Thus  the  old  gentleman  ended  his  harangue.  The 
people  heard  it,  and  approved  the  doctrine,  and  im 
mediately  practised  the  contrary,  just  as  if  it  had  been 
a  common  sermon  ;  for  the  auction  opened,  and  they 
began  to  buy  extravagantly.  I  found  the  good  man 
had  thoroughly  studied  my  almanacs,  and  digested 
all  I  had  dropped  on  these  topics  during  the  course 
of  twenty-five  years.  The  frequent  mention  he  made 
of  me  must  have  tired  any  one  else ;  but  my  vanity 
was  wonderfully  delighted  with  it,  though  I  was  con 
scious  that  not  a  tenth  part  of  the  wisdom  was  my 
own  which  he  ascribed  to  me,  but  rather  the  glean 
ings  that  I  had  made  of  the  sense  of  all  ages  and 
nations.  However,  I  resolved  to  be  the  better  for  the 
echo  of  it ;  and,  though  I  had  at  first  determined  to 
buy  stuff  for  a  new  coat,  I  went  away  resolved  to 
wear  my  old  one  a  little  longer.  Reader,  if  thou 
wilt  do  the  same,  thy  profit  will  be  as  great  as  mine. 
I  am,  as  ever,  thine  to  serve  thee, 

RICHARD  SAUNDERS. 

The  praise  bestowed  on  Father  Abraham,  by 
those  who  heard  him  at  the  auction  stand,  was 
soon  taken  up  by  the  civilized  world.  The 
sale  of  the  almanac  had  always  been  large. 
Year  after  year  ten  thousand  copies,  or  one  for 
every  hundred  inhabitants  of  the  land,  came 
from  the  press.  But  ten  thousand  copies  did 


POPULARITY   OF  FATHER  ABRAHAM.        127 

not  begin  to  meet  the  demand  for  "  Poor 
Richard"  of  1758.  Such  was  the  eagerness  of 
the  people  to  read  the  Address  that  the  news 
papers  published  it  again  and  again.  Franklin 
himself  sent  it  forth  as  a  broadside,  and  at  last, 
in  1760,  his  nephew,  Benjamin  Mecom  of  Bos 
ton,  made  it  into  a  pamphlet,  adorned  with  a 
huge  folding  plate  of  Father  Abraham  in  his 
study.  The  title  is,  "  Father  Abraham's  Speech 
to  a  great  number  of  people,  at  a  Vendue  of 
Merchants'  Goods ;  introduced  to  the  public  by 
Poor  Richard  (a  famous  Pennsylvanian  con 
jurer  and  almanac-maker),  in  answer  to  the  fol 
lowing  questions :  '  Pray,  Father  Abraham,  what 
do  you  think  of  the  times  ?  Won't  these  heavy 
taxes  quite  ruin  the  country  ?  How  shall  we 
be  ever  able  to  pay  them?  What  would  you 
advise  us  to?" 

In  the  Advertisement,  without  which  no 
book  was  then  thought  complete,  the  reader  is 
assured  that  "at  the  first  appearance  of  this 
humorous  and  instructive  production,  several 
gentlemen  of  approved  taste  were  struck  with 
the  design  and  beauty  of  it,  and  therefore 
desired  to  know  the  parents'  name.  Father 
Abraham's  speech  is  the  comely  offspring  of 
that  Frank-lyn-cean  genius  who  is  the  author} 
of  a  pamphlet  intitled  '  The  Interest  of  Great 
Britain  Considered,'  "  a  pamphlet  Franklin  did 


\ 


128  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

not  write.  Thus  started  by  Mecom,  the  speech 
was  quickly  repnblished  in  the  same  form  at 
New  Haven,  at  New  London,  at  Philadelphia. 

Franklin  was  then  at  London,  and  thither 
his  work  followed  him  ;  was  printed  on  a  broad 
side,  was  widely  circulated,  was  hung  up  on  the 
walls  of  workshops  and  houses ;  crossed  the 
Channel ;  was  done  into  French,  and  bought  in 
great  quantity  by  priests  and  nobles  for  dis 
tribution  among  the  poor.  Since  that  day  it 
has  spread  over  the  whole  of  Europe,  and  may 
now  be  read  in  French,  in  German,  in  Spanish, 
in  Italian,  in  Russian,  in  the  language  of  Hol 
land,  in  the  language  of  Bohemia,  in  modern 
Greek,  in  Gaelic,  and  in  Portuguese.  Under 
the  title  "La  Science  du  Bonhomrne  Richard," 
it  has  been  thirty  times  printed  in  French,  and 
twice  in  Italian.  As  "  The  Way  to  Wealth," 
it  has  been  issued  twenty-seven  times  in  Eng 
lish  in  pamphlet  form,  and  innumerable  times 
as  a  broadside.  Never  since  1770  has  a  period 
of  five  years  been  suffered  to  go  by  without  a 
new  edition  of  "The  Way  to  Wealth"  ap 
pearing  in  some  form  in  some  language. 
Printers  have  used  it  to  advertise  their  business. 
Short-hand  writers  have  issued  it  in  phonetic 
characters.  It  may  be  found  in  the  publications 
of  societies  for  improving  the  condition  of  the 
poor;  in  "Prompters;"  in  "Immortal  Men- 


POPULARITY  OF  FATHER  ABRAHAM.       129 

tors  ;  "  in  "  Moral  Tracts ;  "  in  "  First  Notions 
of  Political  Economy  ;"  in  "Elements  of  Mor 
als  ;  "  in  "  Whole  Duties  of  Men  and  Women," 
and  as  a  rebus  for  the  amusement  of  the  idle. 
Without  question,  the  speech  of  Father  Abra 
ham  is  the  most  famous  piece  of  literature  the 
colonies  produced.  After  1758  Franklin  wrote 
no  more  for  "Poor  Richard."  In  1796  the 
almanac  ceased  to  appear. 

In  1740  Franklin  embarked  in  a  literary 
venture  of  which  no  mention  is  made  in  the 
Autobiography.  That  he  should  remember  so 
much  that  was  passing  and  trivial,  and  forget 
this,  is  strange  indeed.  The  newspaper  quar 
rel  with  which  it  opened,  and  the  flat  failure 
in  which  it  closed,  might  well  have  served  to 
keep  it  in  mind.  But  it  did  not. 

The  venture  was  a  magazine.  No  such  pub 
lication  had  then  appeared  in  the  English 
colonies  ;  but  the  time  for  one  was  now  come, 
he  thought,  and,  thinking  so,  he  began  to  look 
about  him  for  some  one  to  act  as  editor.  The 
person  chosen  was  John  Webbe,  a  conveyancer 
and  a  dull  pedant,  now  remembered  by  gather 
ers  of  rare  old  books  as  the  author  of  a  pam 
phlet  entitled  "  A  Discourse  Concerning  Paper 
Money."  To  him  the  plan  was  fully  unfolded, 
the  terms  of  publication  settled,  and  a  bargain 
made,  when,  in  the  "Mercury"  of  October 


130  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

30,  1740,  Webbe  announced  a  magazine  of 
his  own.  His  prospectus  filled  just  one  half 
of  the  newspaper,  and  would  in  our  times  be 
enough  to  kill  a  magazine  outright.  The  en 
couragement  given  to  magazines  in  England 
was  his  excuse  for  attempting  one  in  America. 
But  he  would  by  no  means  follow  the  British 
models.  He  had  a  plan  of  his  own,  and  his 
plan  was  this:  In  his  magazine  should  be 
found  speeches  of  governors ;  addresses  of  as 
semblies  ;  extracts  of  laws,  with  the  reasons  on 
which  they  were  founded  and  the  ills  they  were 
to  remove  ;  accounts  of  the  climate,  soil,  produc 
tions,  trades  and  manufactures  of  the  British 
colonies ;  of  trials,  of  the  course  of  exchange, 
of  the  fluctuation  of  paper  money ;  but  no 
scandal,  no  falsehood,  no  defamatory  libeling. 
Then  followed  a  long,  dreary,  and  pedantic 
essay  on  the  horridness  of  defamation,  on  the 
law  of  libel,  on  the  liberty  of  the  press,  and 
the  duty  of  obedience  to  rulers,  mingled  with 
scraps  from  Euripides  and  Horace.  In  a 
"  postscript "  he  announced  that  the  magazine 
should  issue  monthly,  should  contain  four 
sheets,  should  cost  twelve  shillings  Pennsyl 
vania  money  a  year,  and  should  be  printed  by 
Andrew  Bradford. 

In   the   next   issue   of   the    "  Gazette "   was 
Franklin's   plan  for  a   magazine.     The   name 


THE   GENERAL  MAG 


was  to  be  "  The  General  Magazine  and  Histori 
cal  Chronicle  for  all  the  British  Plantations  in 
America."  The  price  to  the  public  was  to  be 
ninepence  Pennsylvania  money,  but  chapmen 
were  to  have  it  for  less.  No  subscriptions  were 
to  be  taken.  This,  he  stated,  had  two  advan 
tages  :  Readers  need  only  buy  such  numbers  as 
pleased  them,  while  the  printer  would  be  forced 
to  exert  himself  to  find  such  pieces  as  would 
please  them.  The  idea  of  such  a  magazine 
had  long  been  in  his  mind.  Indeed,  he  had 
chosen  his  writers  and  bought  his  small  type. 
Yet  he  would  not  have  begun  publication  so 
soon  had  not  a  person  to  whom  he  told  this  plan 
in  confidence,  betrayed  him,  and  published  it  in 
the  last  "  Mercury."  This  was  to  discourage 
him  from  going  on.  But  he  would  go  on,  and 
seek,  by  care,  by  diligence,  by  impartiality,  by 
turning  out  a  well-printed  pamphlet,  to  have  at 
least  a  share  of  public  favor. 

Webbe  now  grew  angry,  and  wrote  so  long 
a  reply  that  it  filled  all  the  spare  columns  of 
three  numbers  of  the  "  Mercury."  He  called 
his  reply  "  The  Detection,"  and,  after  a  great 
deal  of  just  such  stuff  as  angry  men  are  always 
writing,  began  to  answer  the  charges.  Mr. 
Franklin  did,  indeed,  mention  his  desire  to 
print  a  magazine,  and  asked  him  to  compose  it. 
But  did  such  a  request  compel  him  to  write  one 


132  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

for  Mr.  Franklin  to  print  ?  Did  it  prevent  him 
from  publishing  at  Mr.  Bradford's  press  without 
Mr.  Franklin's  leave  ?  If  so,  then  Mr.  Frank 
lin  had  but  to  offer  himself  as  printer  of  books 
and  pamphlets  to  every  man  he  thought  able 
to  write  them,  and  they  would  thenceforth  be 
restrained  from  printing  anything  without  his 
consent.  As  to  a  plan,  Mr.  Franklin  never 
made  a  plan.  Just  what  he  did  do  was  jotted 
down  in  his  own  handwriting,  and  was  this :  — 

"  Magazine  to  consist  of  3  sheets,  1000  to 
be  printed  at  first.  Price  15s.  a  year,  or  15<#. 
apiece  single,  12s.  a  Doz.  to  those  that  sell 
again. 

"  B.  F.  to  be  at  all  Expense  of  Paper,  Print- 
ing,  Correspondence,  for  procuring  Materials, 
&c.,  vending,  keeping  accounts,  &c.  J.  W.  to 
dispose  the  Materials,  make  Abstracts,  and 
write  what  shall  be  necessary  for  promoting  the 
Thing,  &c.  The  Money  received  to  be  divided 
thus:  .  .  .  B.  F.,for  and  towards  defraying  the 
Expense  above  mentioned,  to  take  first  one  half, 
the  Remainder  to  be  equally  divided  between 
him  and  J.  W.  Bad  debts,  if  any,  to  be  divided 
in  the  same  manner. 

"  To  agree  for  a  Term  of  7  years.  The  above 
Agreement  to  be  for  all  under  2000  ;  all  above 
2000  sold,  the  money  to  be  equally  divided ; 
B.  F.  to  be  at  all  Expense." 


THE  RIVAL  MAGAZINES.  133 

When  these  proposals  were  delivered  to 
Webbe,  Franklin  declared  that  he  was  entitled 
to  half  the  profits,  beside  his  gain  as  a  printer, 
for  two  reasons.  In  the  first  place,  he  had  a 
font  of  small  letter  such  as  no  other  printer 
in  America  had  ;  in  the  second  place,  he  was 
postmaster,  and  that  gave  him  power  to  circu 
late  his  magazine  to  the  exclusion  of  any  rival. 
Believing  all  this,  Webbe  readily  agreed.  But 
before  the  contract  was  engrossed  and  ready 
for  signing,  he  grew  wiser.  The  reasons  for 
claiming  so  great  a  share  of  the  profits  he 
learned  were  groundless  and  ridiculous,  and, 
fearing  grosser  frauds  behind,  he  carried  his 
plan  to  Bradford.  If  Bradford  gave  him  bet 
ter  terms,  it  was  not  because  he  loved  Webbe, 
but  because  he  hated  Franklin. 

The  second  installment  of  "  The  Detection  " 
is  given  to  sneering  at  Franklin's  plan,  to  justi 
fying  Webbe's  plan,  but  at  the  same  time  assur 
ing  the  public  that  the  proposed  magazine  will 
not  appear.  In  the  third  number  of  "  The 
Detection,"  Webbe  flatly  accused  Franklin  of 
using  his  place  of  postmaster  to  shut  the  "  Mer 
cury  "  out  of  the  post,  and  of  refusing  to  let 
the  riders  carry  it  with  the  "  Gazette."  Up  to 
this  point  in  the  squabble  Franklin  had  made 
no  reply.  He  now  dropped  the  advertisement 
of  the  magazine,  and  in  its  place  put  a  letter. 


134  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

It  was  true  that  none  of  Bradford's  "  Mercu 
ries"  were  carried  by  the  riders.  Colonel 
Spots  wood,  the  postmaster-general,  had  peremp 
torily  forbidden  it ;  and  he  had  forbidden  it 
because  Mr.  Bradford  had  persistently  refused 
to  settle  his  accounts  as  late  postmaster  at 
Philadelphia. 

The  dispute  had  now  become  so  hot  that 
Bradford  issued  a  postscript  to  the  "  Mercury," 
in  which  Webbe  made  a  rambling  reply.  It 
was  true  that,  after  the  orders  of  Colonel  Spots- 
wood,  no  more  "  Mercuries"  had  been  sent  to 
the  post-office  to  be  forwarded  in  the  mail ; 
but  they  had  been  sent  to  the  riders,  and  had, 
with  the  connivance  of  Franklin,  been  distri 
buted  by  them.  Now,  upon  a  sudden,  this  was 
stopped,  and  it  was  stopped  because  of  the  let 
ters  which  the  "  Mercury "  contained.  This 
charge  undoubtedly  was  true. 

With  this  the  quarrel  ended,  and  no  more 
was  heard  of  the  magazines  till  the  close  of 
January,  1740-1741.  Then,  to  the  surprise  of 
the  town,  Bradford  announced  that  he  had  in 
press  and  would  soon  publish  "  The  American 
Magazine,  or  A  Monthly  View  of  the  Political 
State  of  the  British  Colonies."  True  to  his 
word,  the  magazine  was  on  his  counter  on  the 
13th  of  February,  1740-1741.  Three  days  later 
Franklin  issued  "The  General  Magazine  and 


THE  RIVAL  MAGAZINES.  135 

Historical  Chronicle  for  all  the  British  Prov 
inces  in  America."  "  The  American  Maga 
zine  "  lived  three  months,  and  was  ridiculed 
by  Franklin  in  doggerel  verse.  "  The  General 
Magazine  "  struggled  on  for  six  months,  and 
then  quietly  expired.  It  was  printed  on  the 
small  type  of  which  Franklin  had  boasted  to 
Webbe.  The  title-page  was  adorned  with  the 
Prince  of  Wales'  coronet  and  plumes.  The 
contents  were  historical,  political,  religious. 
There  were  speeches  of  governors,  replies  of 
assemblies,  pieces  of  poetry,  extracts  from 
books,  long  theological  disputes,  and  a  man 
ual  of  arms.  But  neither  the  contents,  nor  the 
fine  type,  nor  the  place  of  postmaster,  could 
make  it  popular.  It  perished  miserably,  was 
utterly  forgotten  by  its  founder,  and  is  of  no 
interest  now  save  that,  with  the  "American 
Magazine"  of  Bradford,  it  forms  the  first 
attempt  to  set  up  the  monthly  magazine  in 
America. 


CHAPTER  V. 

1743-1756. 

THE  failure  of  the  magazine  did  not  dis 
hearten  him,  and  he  was  soon  casting  about 
for  something  else  to  set  agoing.  He  found  it 
in  the  "  Academy  and  Charitable  School  of  the 
Province  of  Pennsylvania."  There  was  in  al 
most  every  large  town  in  the  province  a  school 
of  some  sort  where  the  rudiments  of  education 
were  taught.  But  nowhere  did  an  academy, 
or  anything  approaching  to  a  college,  exist. 
That  none  existed  was,  to  Franklin,  a  good  and 
sufficient  reason  why  he  should  seek  to  found 
one.  It  was  not  long,  therefore,  before  he  had 
a  plan  drawn  and  a  rector  chosen.  The  rector 
was  to  be  the  Reverend  Richard  Peters.  But 
Mr.  Peters  had  a  better-paying  place  in  view, 
would  not  think  of  such  a  position  ;  and  Frank 
lin,  knowing  of  no  other  fit  for  the  trust,  laid 
his  scheme  aside  for  six  years. 

Hard  upon  the  abandonment  of  the  plan  for 
an  academy  came  his  "  Proposal  for  Promoting 
Useful  Knowledge  among  the  British  Planta- 


FOUNDS  A  SCIENTIFIC  SOCIETY.          137 

tions  in  America."  The  paper  is  dated  May 
14,  1743,  goes  over  the  difficulties  scientific  men 
found  in  communicating  their  discoveries  to 
each  other,  and  suggests  as  a  remedy  the  found 
ing  of  the  "  American  Philosophical  Society  " 
at  Philadelphia.  This  was  done.  But  beyond 
this  fact  and  the  roll  of  membership,  nothing 
concerning  it  is  known.  The  records  are  gone. 
The  transactions  are  lost,  and  if  any  papers 
were  communicated  by  the  members,  they  too 
are  wanting.  Franklin  did,  indeed,  propose  to 
publish  an  American  Philosophical  Miscellany, 
to  issue  the  first  number  in  January,  1746,  and 
to  put  in  it  selections  from  the  papers  written 
by  the  gentlemen  of  the  society.  But  when 
1746  came  Franklin  was  deep  in  electrical  re 
searches,  from  which  in  1747  he  was  suddenly 
turned  aside  by  a  series  of  events  it  is  now 
necessary  to  narrate. 

In  1739  trouble  broke  out  between  England 
and  Spain  as  to  the  right  to  gather  salt  at  Tor- 
tugas  and  cut  logwood  at  Campeachy.  As  the 
next  ship  from  London  might  bring  news  of 
open  war,  the  governor  begged  the  assembly 
to  put  the  province  in  a  state  of  defense.  He 
reminded  them  in  strong  terms  of  the  terrors  of 
war,  of  sacked  cities,  of  ravaged  fields,  of  the 
slaughter  of  the  young  and  feeble  by  merciless 
and  pitiless  invaders.  But  his  eloquence  could 


138  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

not  move  them  and  they  adjourned.  On  re 
assembling,  the  governor  again  appealed  for 
money  with  which  to  make  ready  for  war.  But 
he  was  reminded  by  the  assembly  that  in  Penn 
sylvania  all  men  enjoyed  an  equal  right  to  the 
liberty  of  conscience ;  that  the  Quakers  could 
not  in  conscience  take  up  arms,  and  that  to 
compel  them  so  to  do  would  be  a  violation  of 
the  fundamental  doctrines  of  the  constitution. 
To  exempt  the  Quakers  from  military  service 
would,  on  the  other  hand,  be  to  make  a  partial 
law,  and  to  make  partial  laws  was  unconstitu 
tional  and  impolitic.  In  short,  he  was  plainly 
told  that  the  Quakers  would  neither  fight  them 
selves,  nor  openly  furnish  means  for  others  to 
fight.  Even  when  war  was  formally  declared 
from  the  court-house  steps,  he  could  obtain 
nothing,  and  was  forced  to  be  content  with 
drumming  up  volunteers  for  an  expedition  "  to 
plunder  Cuba." 

The  proclamation  which  the  governor  put 
forth  on  that  occasion,  and  which  Franklin 
printed,  is  a  fine  commentary  on  the  warfare  of 
that  age.  It  reads  like  such  a  speech  as  might 
have  been  made  to  the  braves  who  sacked 
Schenectady,  or  such  an  exhortation  as  Black- 
beard  might  have  made  on  the  eve  of  battle  to 
the  wretches  that  constituted  his  pirate  crew. 

"  The  Spaniards,'*  the  humane  governor  an- 


WAR   WITH  SPAIN.  139 

nounced,  "have  no  strength  either  of  men  or 
fortifications  that  can  resist  the  king's  forces 
on  this  expedition ;  they  will  be  an  easy  con 
quest  and  you  the  gainers.  They  will  fly  before 
you  and  leave  their  houses,  their  negroes,  their 
money,  plate,  jewels,  and  plantations  to  be  pos 
sessed  by  you  and  your  posterity  forever. 

"  Consider  the  terms,  too,  on  which  you  are 
invited  to  this  undertaking.  It  is  not  at  your  or 
your  country's  expense.  No !  the  king  defrays 
the  whole  charge.  He  pays  you.  He  clothes 
you.  He  arms  you.  He  transports  you  to  the 
places  of  victory,  plunder,  and  riches,  and  then 
transports  you  hither  again  if  you  choose  to  re 
turn.  .  .  .  Would  you  throw  off  your  homespun, 
and  shine  in  silver  and  gold  lace  and  embroi 
dery  ?  Would  you  grow  rich  at  once  ?  Would 
you  leave  great  estates  to  your  posterity  ?  Go 
volunteer  in  this  expedition  and  take  the  island 
of  Cuba." 

So  alluring  did  the  prospect  seem,  that  seven 
companies  were  soon  enlisted  and  quartered  in 
the  towns  near  Philadelphia ;  and  of  these  troops 
fully  three  hundred  were  redemptioners  who 
had  volunteered  for  the  king's  service  without 
their  masters'  consent.  Out  of  this  grew  a  long 
dispute  between  the  governor  and  the  assem 
bly,  which  neither  the  appearance  of  Spanish 
privateers  off  the  coast,  nor  the  declaration  of 


140  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

war  with  France,  nor  the  arrival  of  a  French 
privateer  at  the  Capes,  nor  the  rejoicings  which 
followed  the  capture  of  Louisburg,  could  quite 
compose. 

When  news  came  that  the  fleet  had  actually 
sailed,  the  desire  to  hear  of  its  success  became 
intense.  "My  shop,"  Franklin  wrote  to  his 
brother  John, "  is  filled  with  thirty  inquirers  at 
the  coming  in  of  every  post.  Some  wonder  the 
place  is  not  yet  taken.  I  tell  them  I  shall  be 
glad  to  hear  that  news  three  months  hence." 
When  he  did  hear  it  the  city  was  made  wild  with 
joy.  Bells  were  rung,  bonfires  lighted,  toasts 
drunk,  and  whole  days  spent  in  visits  of  congrat 
ulation.  Then  at  last  the  Quakers  yielded  a 
trifle,  and  placed  four  thousand  pounds  in  the 
hands  of  two  trustees  "  to  purchase  bread,  beef, 
pork,  flour,  wheat  or  other  grain  to  be  used  in 
the  king's  service  as  the  governor  shall  think 
best."  The  story  has  come  down  to  us  that  the 
governor  declared  "  other  grain  "  meant  pow 
der,  and  that  for  powder  the  money  was  spent. 

Be  this  as  it  may,  the  time  for  such  trifling 
was  soon  to  end.  On  the  morning  of  July  12, 
1747,  a  sloop  came  to  anchor  just  off  Cape 
May,  ran  up  the  English  colors,  and  signaled 
for  a  pilot  to  come  on  board.  The  first  to  see 
her  obeyed,  and  clambered  up  her  side  to  find 
himself  on  the  deck  of  a  French  privateer  com- 


PRIVATEERS  IN  THE  DELAWARE.         141 

manded  by  French  officers  and  manned  by  a 
Spanish  crew.  Seizing  the  pilot-boat,  an  officer 
and  some  men  sailed  into  the  Delaware,  landed 
near  New  Castle,  plundered  two  houses,  beat  a 
man,  shot  a  woman,  and  carried  off  a  negro 
wench.  As  they  passed  down  the  river  they 
robbed  a  second  pilot-boat  of  sails. 

Even  these  outrages,  perpetrated  within 
twenty  miles  of  the  town,  did  not  move  the 
Quakers  to  put  the  province  in  a  state  of  de 
fense.  The  president  of  the  city  council  was 
not  in  town.  But  the  members  assembled,  and 
declared  that  the  province  and  the  lower  coun 
ties  ought  to  be  defended.  Unhappily  they 
had  no  money,  the  assembly  was  not  sitting, 
and  the  assembly  alone  could  provide  the 
money.  In  this  strait  some  merchants  offered 
to  advance  the  sum  needed  if  the  members  of 
the  assembly  would  promise  to  support  a  bill 
to  pay  them  back.  The  city  members  were  in 
stantly  summoned :  the  speaker  and  four  others 
attended,  heard  the  proposition,  and  firmly  an 
swered  No  !  They  would  as  soon,  they  said, 
take  a  commission  to  fight.  Nor  would  the 
assembly,  when  it  met,  do  anything.  There 
was  nothing  to  fear.  The  late  danger  was  past 
and  gone.  No  future  attack  was  to  be  feared  : 
the  city  was  too  far  from  the  sea.  Three  days 
after  this  stupid  answer  of  the  assembly  a 


142  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

French  privateer  sailed  up  the  Delaware,  and  a 
second  time  the  city  was  filled  with  alarm.  Be 
fore  a  fortnight  had  passed  the  Spanish  priva 
teers  entered  the  river,  and  the  men  of  Lewis- 
ton  were  three  days  under  arms.  Even  then 
the  assembly  could  only  lament  that  such 
things  could  be. 

While  these  events  were  happening  on  the 
river,  Franklin  was  deep  in  the  study  of  elec 
tricity.  No  study,  he  declared  in  a  letter  writ 
ten  in  1747,  had  ever  before  so  completely 
taken  up  his  attention  and  his  time.  What 
with  making  experiments  by  himself,  and  re 
peating  them  before  friends  who  came  in  crowds 
to  see,  he  had,  he  wrote,  leisure  for  little  else. 
But,  the  moment  the  assembly  refused  to  de 
fend  the  city  and  the  province,  Franklin  put 
away  his  Leyden  jars,  turned  once  more  to 
public  affairs,  and  wrote  a  pamphlet  which  he 
called  "  Plain  Truth." 

The  date  of  publication  was  long  in  doubt. 
One  biographer  has  placed  it  in  1744  ;  another 
somewhere  between  1746  and  1747.  Had 
either  of  them  taken  the  pains  to  examine  the 
"  Pennsylvania  Gazette  "  for  Thursday,  Novem 
ber  12,  1747,  he  might  there  have  read,  "  Next 
Saturday  will  be  published  fc  Plain  Truth ;  or, 
Serious  Considerations  on  the  Present  State  of 
the  City  of  Philadelphia  and  Province  of  Penn- 


"PLAIN  TRUTH"  143 

sylvania,  by  a  Tradesman  of  Philadelphia.' " 
Then  followed  a  long  quotation  from  Sallust. 

Having  thus  announced  the  pamphlet,  Frank 
lin  went  on  to  advertise  it  in  his  characteristic 
way,  wrote  a  couple  of  pieces  in  praise  of  it  and 
inserted  them  in  the  "  Gazette  "  of  November 
19.  One  was  a  translation  of  the  Latin  quota 
tion,  with  a  few  lines  by  way  of  preface  signed 
"  X  "  and  addressed  to  "  Mr.  Franklin."  The 
other  he  pretended  came  from  a  Presbyterian. 
"  Whereas,"  it  began,  "  in  a  paper  called  '  Plain 
Truth,'  lately  published,  there  are  several  in 
jurious  Reflections  on  a  number  of  Persons,  who 
the  Writer  calls  the  Party  opposed  to  the  Qua 
kers,  as  if  they  were  utterly  regardless  of  the 
Public  Good,  and  from  mean  and  unjustifiable 
motives  would  refuse  to  do  any  Thing  for  the 
Defence  of  the  Country,  some  of  those  supposed 
to  be  pointed  at  think  it  a  Justice  due  to  them 
selves  and  others  to  declare,  that  whatever  might 
have  been  the  inconsiderate  Expressions  of  a 
few,  during  the  Heat  of  our  late  Party  Differ 
ences,  they  always  have  been  and  now  are  sin 
cerely  and  heartily  determined  to  exert  them 
selves,  according  to  their  several  Abilities,  for 
our  common  Security.  Which  may  the  more 
easily  gain  Belief  when  it  is  considered  they 
were  many  of  them  at  large  Expense  the  Sum 
mer  past  in  defraying  the  charge  of  a  vessel 


144  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

sent  out  as  a  Guard-a- Coast,  and  that  it  cost 
some  of  them  (being  owners)  Six  Hundred 
Pounds  beyond  what  they  gave  by  Subscrip 
tion.  And  tho'  they  think  they  have  great  Rea 
son  to  resent  the  abuse  and  unjustifiable  Treat 
ment  given  them  by  that  Writer,  yet  they  waive 
every  Thing  of  this  kind,  in  consideration  of 
his  appearing  to  mean  well.  And  they  do 
hereby  further  declare,  that  if  he  or  any  other 
Person  can  propose  a  practicable  Scheme  by 
which  the  Inhabitants  of  this  Province  may  be 
united  and  disciplined,  and  the  county  and  city 
put  into  a  state  of  Defence,  none  shall  enter 
into  the  same  more  heartily  than  they." 

The  sole  purpose  for  which  this  pretended 
criticism  was  written  is  set  forth  in  the  closing 
sentence.  At  the  end  of  his  pamphlet  Frank 
lin  promised  his  readers  that  he  would,  if  his 
hints  met  their  approval,  lay  before  them,  in  a 
few  days,  a  plan  of  an  association  for  defense. 
He  now  in  his  criticism  called  upon  himself  to 
furnish  "  a  practical  scheme,"  and  speedily  did 
so.  We  are  told  in  the  Autobiography  that 
he  made  ready  a  draft,  appointed  a  meeting  of 
townsmen  at  the  New  Building,  harangued  the 
people,  distributed  pens,  ink,  and  copies  of  the 
plan,  and  that,  when  the  papers  were  gathered, 
twelve  hundred  men  were  found  to  have  signed. 
This,  unhappily,  is  not  true.  Franklin  wrote 


"PLAIN  TRUTH."  145 

his  account  forty-one  years  after  the  event  de 
scribed  ;  he  had  then  forgotten  what  really  took 
place,  and  what  really  took  place  appears  from 
his  own  newspaper  to  have  been  this : l  — 

"  Last  Saturday  a  great  number  of  the  Inhab 
itants  of  this  City  met  at  Mr.  Walton's  School- 
House  in  Arch  Street,  when  a  Form  of  an 
Association  for  our  common  Security  and  De 
fense  against  the  enemy  was  consider'd  and 
agreed  to.  On  Monday  following  the  same  was 
laid  before  a  great  meeting  of  the  principal 
Gentlemen,  Merchants  and  others,  at  Roberts' 
Coffee  House,  where,  after  due  Debate,  it  was 
unanimously  approv'd  of,  and  another  meeting 
appointed  for  the  next  Day  following  at  the 
New  Building,  in  order  to  begin  signing.  Ac 
cording,  on  Tuesday  Evening  upwards  of  five 
hundred  men  of  all  Ranks  subscribed  their 
names ;  and  as  the  Subscribing  is  still  going 
on  briskly  in  all  parts  of  the  Town,  'tis  not 
doubted  but  that  in  a  few  Days  the  number  will 
exceed  a  thousand  in  this  City,  exclusive  of  the 
neighboring  Towns  and  Country." 

To  enforce  precept  with  illustration  was  one 
of  Franklin's  many  hobbies.  He  accordingly 
made  a  rude  cut,  in  type  metal,  of  the  wagoner 
beseeching  Hercules  for  aid,  and  stamped  it  on 
the  title-page  of  the  second  edition  of  "  Plain 

l  Pennsylvania  Gazette,  November  26,  1747. 


146  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

Truth."  The  picture  was  a  fitting  emblem  of 
the  principles  and  effect  of  the  pamphlet.  No 
sooner  did  the  people  begin  to  bestir  them 
selves  in  their  own  behalf  than  help  came  in 
from  every  side.  The  merchants  addressed  the 
board  of  trade,  and  begged  that  a  man-of-war 
might  occasionally  be  sent  into  Delaware  Bay. 
The  mayor  and  common  council  proposed  a 
letter  to  the  proprietaries  asking  cannon.  A 
lottery  was  started  to  raise  three  thousand 
pounds  to  build  a  battery.  The  common  coun 
cil  took  two  thousand  tickets,  and  the  fire  com 
panies  were  asked  to  take  their  share.  Then 
began  one  of  those  foolish  contests  with  which 
the  history  of  every  sect  of  rigid  extremists 
abounds.  The  majority  of  the  members  of  each 
fire  company  were  Friends,  and  the  Friends 
were  set  against  both  lotteries  and  war.  In 
the  Union,  of  which  Franklin  was  a  member, 
the  contest  seems  to  have  been  short.  Of  the 
thirty  members,  twenty-two  were  Quakers.  On 
the  appointed  night  the  eight  who  were  not 
Quakers  met  promptly  in  the  company  room, 
while  as  many  more  Quakers  friendly  to  the 
lottery  gathered  at  a  neighboring  tavern,  to 
be  called  in  if  necessary.  But  they  were  not 
wanted,  for  only  one  Quaker  came  to  oppose 
the  plan,  and  the  sixty  pounds  of  stock  were 
voted  to  the  lottery  by  eight  votes  to  one.  Not 


OPPOSITION  TO  DEFENSE.  147 

expecting  any  aid  from  the  Quakers,  Franklin 
had  made  ready  a  plan  of  his  own.  "  If,"  said 
he  to  Mr.  Syng,  —  "if  we  fail,  let  us  move  the 
purchase  of  a  fire-engine  with  the  money  ;  the 
Quakers  can  have  no  objection  to  that ;  and 
then,  if  you  nominate  me  and  I  you  as  a  com 
mittee  for  that  purpose,  we  will  buy  a  great 
gun,  and  certainly  that  will  be  a  fire-engine." 

A  very  different  scene,  however,  took  place  at 
the  meeting  of  another  company.  One  of  the 
members  was  John  Smith,  a  Quaker,  and  a 
brother  of  that  Samuel  Smith  who  is  now  re 
membered  for  his  "  History  of  New  Jersey  "  and 
his  pamphlet  "  Necessary  Truth."  His  journal 
is  still  preserved,  and  under  date  of  November 
31,  1747,  he  asserts  that  he  spent  the  evening 
with  his  fire  company  ;  that  defense  and  the 
association  were  much  the  subject  of  conversa 
tion,  and  that  he  said  little  till  it  was  proposed 
to  use  the  bank  stock  for  the  purchase  of  tick 
ets,  and  vote  on  the  question  by  ballot ;  that  he 
then  stoutly  opposed  this  private  method  of 
voting ;  declared  that  he  believed  many  would 
vote  "yes  "  by  ballot  who  would  vote  "  no  "  on 
a  show  of  hands;  reminded  them  that  to  dis 
courage  lotteries  was  the  duty  of  Friends ;  and 
carried  his  point  against  using  the  stock  by 
nineteen  to  three. 

But  the  battery  did  not  suffer  on  that  account. 


148  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

The  carpenters  gave  their  labor  in  building  it ; 
the  governor  of  New  York  loaned  some  can 
non  ;  while  the  women  of  the  city  bought 
the  drums,  halberds,  banners,  half-pikes,  and 
spontoons  for  the  twenty  companies  of  which 
the  Philadelphia  regiment  was  composed.  Be 
fore  peace  was  made  in  1748,  eighty  companies 
were  learning  their  drill,  the  Association  Bat 
tery  was  finished,  a  guard  regularly  mounted 
there  each  night,  and  every  householder  asked 
to  be  ready  to  light  his  windows  with  candles 
if  the  militia  should  be  summoned  to  the 
battery  to  repel  a  night  attack. 

That  "  Plain  Truth  "  had  much  to  do  with 
this  sudden  rise  of  martial  spirit  is  undoubted. 
Two  editions  of  the  pamphlet  were  called  for 
in  a  month.  It  was  translated  into  German 
and  read  by  the  farmers  of  Northumberland 
and  Bucks.  It  was  promptly  answered  in 
"  Necessary  Truth,"  and  provoked  so  bitter  a 
wrangle  that,  before  the  year  went  out,  six 
pamphlets  were  written  and  three  sermons 
preached  on  the  lawfulness  of  a  man  defending 
what  is  his  own. 

There  was  most  happily  no  use  for  the  bat 
tery  or  the  troops.  The  treaty  of  Aix-la- 
Chapelle  brought  peace  to  Europe,  and  with 
the  return  of  peace  Franklin  went  back  to  his 
schemes  of  reform. 


He  was  now  without  doubt  the  most  popular 
man  in  town.  And  while  this  run  of  popular 
ity  lasted  he  determined  to  start  his  long-cher 
ished  scheme  of  an  academy.  His  notions  of 
what  an  academy  should  be  were  hastily  gath 
ered,  a  pamphlet  written,  and  the  subscribers  to 
the  "  Gazette "  surprised,  on  unfolding  their 
newspapers  one  day  in  1749,  to  find  the  pam 
phlet  inside.  The  title  was,  "  Proposals  relat 
ing  to  the  education  of  youth  in  Pensilvania." 

The  "Advertisement  to  the  Reader"  set  forth 
that  some  gentlemen  of  public  spirit  were 
about  to  form  a  plan  for  educating  youth,  and 
called  on  all  who  had  advice  to  give  as  to  the 
parts  of  learning  that  should  be  taught,  the 
order  in  which  they  should  be  taught,  or  the 
method  of  teaching,  to  send  it  without  loss  of 
time  to  B.  Franklin,  printer.  The  house  for 
the  academy,  the  hints  suggested,  should  be  on 
a  spot  high  and  dry,  and  hard  by  the  bank 
of  a  river.  Without  should  be  gardens  and 
orchards,  meadows  and  fields.  Within  should 
be  maps  of  every  land,  globes,  mathematical 
instruments,  prints,  and  drawing  of  buildings 
and  machines.  The  scholars  were  to  eat  to 
gether,  plainly,  temperately,  and  frugally ;  were 
to  wear  a  livery  of  some  sort,  that  their  behav 
ior  might  the  better  be  seen  ;  were  to  be  taught 
to  write  a  fair  hand  swiftly,  and  to  learn  some- 


150  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

thing  of  arithmetic,  of  accounts,  of  drawing,  of 
the  first  principles  of  geometry  and  astronomy, 
and  of  the  first  principles  of  perspective.  To 
better  their  English,  they  were  to  read  Tiilotson 
and  Addison  and  Pope,  Algernon  Sidney,  and 
Cato's  Letters. 

Could  he  have  had  his  own  way,  neither 
Latin  nor  Greek  would  have  had  a  place  in  the 
scheme.  But  the  men  to  whom  he  looked  for 
support  insisted  that  they  should,  and  with  an 
ill  grace  he  put  them  in.  Not  a  grammar,  how 
ever,  was  to  be  touched  till  the  lads  had  been 
made  eager  to  study  the  classics.  To  make 
them  eager  they  were  to  be  told  that  Latin  and 
Greek  were  the  most  expressive,  the  most  co 
pious,  the  most  beautiful  of  languages  ;  that 
the  finest  writings,  the  most  correct  composi 
tions,  the  most  perfect  productions  of  wit  and 
wisdom,  were  in  Latin  and  Greek ;  that  to  ren 
der  them  in  English  was  impossible  ;  that  these 
languages  contained  all  science ;  that  Latin  was 
the  language  of  the  learned  in  all  lands,  and 
that  to  understand  it  was  a  distinguishing  orna 
ment. 

This  was  the  great  principle  that  underlay 
his  plan ;  nothing  should  be  taught  till  the 
scholars  were  impatient  to  learn  it.  There 
should  be  no  logic  till  by  debating  they  began 
to  feel  the  need  of  logic.  There  should  be  no 


PROPOSALS  FOR  AN  ACADEMY.  151 

mechanics  taught  till  the  story  of  the  marvel 
ous  machines  used  in  the  arts,  in  manufactures, 
in  war,  had  aroused  a  desire  to  know  something 
of  the  mechanical  principles  by  which  such 
wonders  were  accomplished.  There  should  be 
no  oratory  till  the  study  of  history  had  filled 
them  with  admiration  of  the  great  things  done 
by  the  masters  of  oratory.  There  should  be  no 
geography  till  a  knowledge  of  past  events  awak 
ened  a  longing  to  know  the  bounds,  the  situa 
tions,  the  exact  extent  of  the  countries  wherein 
such  events  had  taken  place. 

Such  in  brief  were  Franklin's  proposals. 
Those  who  read  them,  highly  approved.  Ad 
vice  and  money  were  freely  given,  twenty-four 
subscribers  agreed  to  act  as  trustees,  and  the 
academy  was  opened  January  7, 1750-51,  in  the 
building  where  it  was  intended  Mr.  Whitefield 
should  preach.  The  day  was  a  great  one.  Mr. 
Peters  preached  the  sermon  ;  and  when  the  ser 
mon  appeared  in  print,1  a  new  pamphlet  by 
Franklin  was  sewed  in  with  it.  This  was  called 
"  Idea  of  an  English  School,  sketch'd  out  for 
the  consideration  of  the  Trustees  of  the  Phila- 

1  A  Sermon  on  Education.  "Wherein  Some  Account  is  given 
of  the  Academy  Established  in  the  City  of  Philadelphia. 
Preach'd  at  the  Opening  thereof,  on  the  Seventh  Day  of  Jan 
uary,  1750-51.  By  the  Reverend  Mr.  Richard  Peters.  Phil 
adelphia  :  Printed  and  sold  by  B.  Franklin  and  D.  Hall,  at  the 
Post  Office.  MDCCLL 


152  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

delphia  Academy."  The  "  Idea  "  was  merely 
the  "  Proposals  "  in  a  new  form. 

Nourished  by  subscriptions,  lotteries,  and 
gifts,  the  Academy  and  Charitable  School  of 
the  Province  of  Pennsylvania  flourished  greatly, 
became  in  time  the  Philadelphia  College,  and 
then  the  University  of  Pennsylvania.  But  the 
"  Idea  "  of  Franklin  was  never  followed.  Year 
by  year  the  Latin  School  was  fostered  ;  year 
by  year  the  English  school  languished,  till  it 
fell  so  far  into  decay  that  the  trustees  endeav 
ored  to  abolish  it.  But  the  charter  would  not 
allow  them,  and  the  school  dragged  on  a 
wretched  existence.  Against  this  stupid  at 
tachment  to  the  classics  Franklin  protested,  a 
few  months  before  his  death,  in  a  pamphlet 
called  "  Observations  Relative  to  the  Inten 
tions  of  the  Original  Founders  of  the  Academy 
in  Philadelphia." 

While  seeking  money  and  founders  for  the 
academy,  Franklin  renewed  his  study  of  elec 
tricity.  Joined  with  him  in  this  study  was  a 
man  to  whose  memory  posterity  has  been  most 
unkind.  No  one  knew  how  to  improve  a  hint 
better  than  Franklin,  and  more  than  one  dis 
covery,  for  which  credit  has  been  given  to  him 
alone,  came  to  him  in  the  shape  of  a  very  broad 
hint  from  Ebenezer  Kinnersley.  That  Frank 
lin  willfully  hid  the  work  of  his  friend  there  is 


FRANKLIN  AND  HALL.  153 

no  proof  whatever.  But  there  is  proof  that  to 
Kinnersley  has  never  been  given  anything  like 
due  praise,  while  to  Franklin  has  been  allotted 
much  more  than  is  his  just  share. 

To  get  time  to  spend  in  the  study  of  electric 
ity,  he  sold  the  newspaper,  the  almanac,  and 
the  printing-house  to  David  Hall,  for  eighteen 
thousand  pounds,  Pennsylvania  money,  payable 
in  eighteen  annual  installments  of  a  thousand 
pounds  each.  Small  as  the  yearly  payment 
may  seem,  it  was  in  truth  a  great  one,  was 
about  half  the  profits  of  the  business,  was 
equal  to  the  salary  of  a  provincial  governor, 
and  would  enable  the  possessor  to  live  in  a 
style  that  could  not  now  be  kept  up  on  seven 
thousand  dollars.  Till  the  eighteen  years  had 
passed,  a  partnership  was  to  exist  under  the 
firm  name  of  Franklin  &  Hall,  and  some  help 
was  to  be  given  by  Franklin  in  editing  the 
"  Pennsylvania  Gazette  "  and  writing  "  Poor 
Richard."  The  places  which  he  held  under 
the  crown  and  the  colony  brought  him  perhaps 
one  hundred  and  fifty  pounds  more. 

Thus,  at  the  age  of  forty-two,  this  English 
candle-maker's  son,  by  a  strict  adherence  to  the 
maxims  of  "  Poor  Richard,"  had  acquired 
riches,  had  retired  from  business,  and  had  be 
gun  that  series  of  remarkable  discoveries  which, 
before  he  was  fifty,  made  his  name  familiar  to 


154:  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

every  learned  society  and  to  every  educated 
man  in  Europe.  "  I  have,"  he  wrote  in  Sep 
tember,  1748,  "  removed  to  a  more  quiet  part  of 
the  town,  where  I  am  settling  my  old  accounts, 
and  soon  hope  to  be  quite  master  of  my  own 
time,  and  no  longer,  as  the  song  has  it,  at  every 
one's  call  but  my  own.  If  health  continue,  I 
hope  to  be  able  in  another  year  to  visit  the  most 
distant  friend  I  have,  without  inconvenience. 
With  the  same  view,  I  have  refused  engaging 
further  in  public  affairs.  The  share  I  had  in 
the  late  association  having  given  me  a  little 
present  run  of  popularity,  there  was  a  pretty 
general  intention  of  choosing  me  a  representa 
tive  of  the  city  at  the  next  election  of  assem 
blymen  ;  but  I  have  desired  all  my  friends  who 
spoke  to  me  about  it  to  discourage  it,  declaring 
that  I  should  not  serve  if  chosen.  Thus  you 
see  I  am  in  a  fair  way  of  having  no  other  tasks 
than  such  as  I  shall  like  to  give  myself,  and  of 
enjoying  what  I  look  upon  as  a  great  happiness, 
—  leisure  to  read,  study,  make  experiments,  and 
converse  at  large  with  such  ingenious  and 
worthy  men  as  are  pleased  to  honor  me  with 
their  friendship  or  acquaintance."  .  .  . 

The  fruit  of  this  leisure  was  rich  indeed. 
Leaving  the  electrical  apparatus  he  bought 
from  Dr.  Spence,  and  the  yet  finer  apparatus 
sent  over  to  the  library  by  the  proprietary,  Mr. 


ELECTRICAL    WRITINGS.  155 

Penn,  he  turned  to  the  study  of  the  electrical 
phenomena  of  nature,  with  the  most  marvelous 
results.  Early  in  1749  came  his  "  Observations 
and  Suppositions  towards  forming  a  new  Hy 
pothesis  for  explaining  the  several  Phenomena 
of  Thunder-gusts."  In  1750  he  wrote  "  Opin 
ions  and  Conjectures  concerning  the  Properties 
and  Effects  of  the  Electrical  Matter,  and  the 
Means  of  Preserving  Buildings,  Ships,  &c., 
from  Lightning,  arising  from  Experiments  and 
Observations  made  at  Philadelphia,  1749."  Of 
all  his  writings  on  the  subject  of  electricity  his 
greatest  is  this,  for  in  it  is  that  short  paragraph 
in  which  he  describes  and  suggests  the  many 
uses  of  the  lightning-rod.  It  had  long  been  a 
custom  with  Franklin  to  make  known  the  results 
of  his  experiments  in  electricity  to  his  old  friend 
Peter  Collinson,  of  London,  and  by  Collinson 
the  letters  were  from  time  to  time  laid  before 
the  Royal  Society.  There  they  met  with  that 
reception  which  in  all  ages  and  by  the  great 
mass  of  all  people  has  always  been  given  to 
whatever  is  new.  Franklin  was  laughed  at,  and 
the  contents  of  his  letters  declared  to  be  of  no 
account.  But  Collinson  thought  otherwise,  and 
when  the  "  Observations  "  and  "  Opinions  " 
reached  him,  determined  that  they  should  be 
given  to  the  world.  Dr.  Fothergill  gladly  wrote 
the  preface.  Cave,  of  the  Gentlemen's  Maga- 


156  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

zine,  consented  to  publish  them,  and  in  May, 
1751,  a  little  pamphlet  entitled  "  New  Experi 
ments  and  Observations  in  Electricity,  made  at 
Philadelphia,  in  America,"  came  out  and  went 
the  round  of  Europe.  One  copy  was  presented 
to  the  Royal  Society,  and  Sir  William  Watson 
requested  to  make  an  abstract.  A  second  passed 
over  to  France,  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Count 
de  Buffon,  was  translated  at  his  request  by  M. 
Dubourg,  had  a  great  sale  at  Paris,  and  soon 
appeared  in  German,  Latin,  and  Italian.  Louis 
had  every  experiment  described  in  the  pam 
phlet  repeated  in  his  presence.  Abbe*  Nollet, 
who  taught  the  royal  children  what  was  then 
called  "  natural  philosophy,"  added  his  mite 
by  asserting  that  no  such  person  as  Franklin 
existed.  Buffon,  De  Lor,  and  Dalibard  hastened 
to  put  up  the  apparatus  described  in  the  pam 
phlet  for  drawing  electricity  from  the  clouds, 
and  each  succeeded.  Dalibard  was  first,  and  on 
the  10th  of  May,  1752,  demonstrated  that  light 
ning  and  electricity  are  the  same.  One  month 
later,  Franklin  flew  his  famous  kite  at  Philadel 
phia  and  proved  the  fact  himself.  The  Royal 
Society  of  London,  which  had  laughed  at  his 
theory  of  lightning,  now  made  him  a  member, 
and  the  next  year  honored  him  with  a  Copley 
medal. 

While  the  whole  scientific  world  was  thus 


THE  SAVAGES    OF  NORTH  AMERICA.       157 

doing  him  honor,  he  suddenly  abandoned  his 
studies  and  went  back  to  politics,  and  was  once 
more  loaded  with  offices  of  every  sort.  His 
townsmen  elected  him  assemblyman,  and  he 
took  his  seat  in  1752.  The  home  government 
appointed  him,  with  William  Hunter  of  Vir 
ginia,  postmaster-general  for  the  colonies.  The 
assembly  sent  him  with  its  speaker  to  hold  a 
conference  with  the  Indians  at  Carlisle.  There, 
as  he  beheld  the  drunken  orgies  round  the  bon 
fire  on  the  public  square,  he  seems  for  the  first 
time  to  have  realized  the  squalid  misery  to 
which  contact  with  the  white  man  was  fast  re 
ducing  the  Indian  tribes.  The  fruit  of  his  mis 
sion  was  a  treaty,  and  in  time  a  pamphlet, 
which  he  named  u  Remarks  concerning  the 
Savages  of  North  America."  A  tradition  is  ex 
tant  that  it  was  written  many  years  afterwards, 
and  printed  for  his  own  amusement  on  his  pri 
vate  press  at  Passey ;  for  it  was  not  given  to 
the  world  till  1784.  As  a  piece  of  humorous 
satire,  the  "  Remarks  "  deserve  to  be  ranked 
among  the  best  of  his  writings.  So  well  is  it 
done  that  no  number  of  perusals  will  suffice  to 
determine  whether  the  butt  of  his  wit  is  the 
white  man  or  the  red  ;  the  pious  Dutchman 
of  Albany  who  went  to  church  to  hear  good 
things  on  Sunday  and  defrauded  the  Indian 
during  the  week,  or  the  ignorant  savage  who 


155  BEXJAMIW  FXJLXKUN. 

despised  civilization  and  believed  the  church  a 
place  W-SMBCI  the  pale-face  learned  to  be  inhos 
pitable  and  to  cheat. 

In  public  life  Franklin  disfJayed  great  exec 
utive  power  mingled  with  traits  which  cannot 
/  be  too  strongly  condemned.     The  vicious  polit- 
f  leal  ifotftrmn  that  to  the  victor  belongs  the 
[  spoils,  he  adopted  in  its  worst  form.  and.  though 
he  mxm.  susght  office,  he  never,  in  the  whole 
coarse  of  his  life,  failed  to  use  his  office  for  the 
advancement  of  men  of  his  own  family  and  his 
own  blood.    When  he  became  a  member  of  the 
assembly,  his  plmfin  of  clerk,  made  vacant  by 


Mi  election,  was  by  his  influence  given  to  his 
son.  When  he  bmmsMi  |MmlMiit<ii  giian  •  ill  of 
the  colonies,  he  at  once  made  his  son 


of  the  post-office,  and  gave  the  postmaster^  p 
of  Philadelphia,  in  torn  to  the  same  son,  to  a 
relative,  and  to  OIM  of  Ire  brothers,  When  he 
wasposimasterof  the  United  States,  his  deputy 
was  his  soo^nOa  w,  Richarxi  Bache.  Yet  no  man 
erer  paifaimi.d  the  duties  of  the  place  better 
than  Franklin.  In  his  hands  the  whole  system 

He  straightened  the  routes;  he  cot  down  the 
postage;  he  forced  the  postridMrs  to  hasten 
their  pace;  he  opened  the  mail-bags  to 
papeis  by  wlKNHisoever  printed,  and  made 

a  source  of  revenue  to  the  crown;  ho 


the  work  of  irfiMi  by  yish- 
in  the  country  s*Te  that  at 
scarcely  returned  from  his 
ent  to  Albany  on  a  mat- 
Tbe  final  contest  for  the 


on  that  contest 
of  one  hundred  and  thirty  years, 
easy  to  see  that  it  eonid  not  in  the  nature 
things  haTe  ended  otherwise  than  it  did. 

th  nations  began  their  •tirtilM  of  Amer- 

the  same  time.   Thefirst 
it  was    made   at 


in   1607,  and  the  in* 
lliaa*  at  f|Biliii   in  1608.    But 


160  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

the  purpose  for  which  the  men  of  each  race  had 
crossed  the  Atlantic  was  totally  different.  The 
English  came  to  settle ;  the  French  came  to 
conquer.  While,  therefore,  the  English  were 
building  cities,  establishing  colonies,  founding 
great  commonwealths,  planting,  trading,  and 
building  ships,  the  French  were  busy  exploring, 
discovering,  erecting  forts,  and  seeking  furs  and 
proselytes  among  the  Indians  of  the  Northwest. 
Hindered  from  coming  southward  by  the  ani 
mosity  of  the  Iroquois,  the  French  pushed 
into  the  West,  and  before  1673  Le  Caron,  a 
Franciscan,  preached  Jesus  to  the  savages  on 
the  shores  of  Lake  Huron  ;  Breboeuf  and 
Daniel  penetrated  to  the  strait  of  Sault  Ste. 
Marie;  Mesnard  reached  the  waters  of  Lake 
Superior,  paddled  in  a  birch  canoe  along  the 
southern  shore,  put  up  a  church  at  the  Bay  of 
St.  Theresa,  and  lost  his  life  among  the  Sioux  ; 
Allouez  explored  both  shores  of  the  lake,  and 
heard  from  the  Indians  of  the  river  Mississippi, 
which  Marquette  and  Joliet  explored.  Nine 
years  later  La  Salle  sailed  down  the  Missis 
sippi  to  the  Gulf,  and  called  that  magnificent 
valley,  through  which  the  river  flowed,  Louis 
iana,  after  Louis  XIV.  Before  the  century 
ended,  Biloxi,  in  Mississippi,  was  founded,  and 
in  1702  Mobile.  In  1718  Law's  Mississippi 
Company  founded  New  Orleans. 


FRENCH  AGGRESSION.  161 

Once  in  possession  of  the  mouth  of  the  river, 
France  laid  claim  to  all  the  territory  the  Mis 
sissippi  and  its  tributaries  drained,  began  to 
encroach  on  English  domain,  and  built  that 
famous  chain  of  forts  from  New  Orleans  to 
Quebec.  In  1731  a  band  of  Frenchmen  en 
tered  New  York  and  put  up  Crown  Point.  In 
1750  the  whole  north  shore  of  the  Bay  of 
Fundy,  from  Chignecto  to  the  Kennebec,  was 
in  French  hands.  They  next  came  up  the  val 
ley  of  the  Ohio,  and  built  forts  at  Niagara,  at 
Presque  Isle,  and  on  the  river  Le  Boeuf. 

Alarmed  and  justly  alarmed  for  the  safety 
of  her  possessions,  England  now  bade  the  colo 
nies  arm  for  defense.  So  long  as  the  French 
remained  in  Canada,  or  built  their  forts  to  the 
west  of  the  Alleghany  range,  she  cared  but  little. 
But  now  they  had  crossed  the  St.  Lawrence 
and  the  mountains  and  had  begun  advancing 
steadily  to  the  sea,  the  king  was  disposed  to 
command  his  subjects  in  America  to  drive  the 
French  invaders  from  the  soil.  To  do  this 
more  speedily^  the  richest,  the  most  populous  of 
the  colonies  were  invited  to  send  delegates  to 
Albany,  there  to  make  a  treaty  with  the  Six 
Nations,  and  frame  a  plan  of  common  defense. 
Rhode  Island  and  Connecticut,  Georgia  and 
the  Carolinas,  received  no  invitation.  Their 
attendance  was  to  be  demanded  by  their  sister 


162  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

colonies,  and  this  demand  Rhode  Island  and 
Connecticut  alone  obeyed.  Of  those  invited, 
Virginia  and  New  Jersey  did  not  attend. 

Scarcely  had  the  delegates  begun  to  be  chosen, 
when  the  French  invaded  Pennsylvania,  and 
led  away  the  surveyors  of  the  English  Ohio 
Company  into  captivity.  Under  the  narrative 
of  the  capture  of  Trent  and  his  men,  which 
appears  in  the  "  Pennsylvania  Gazette,"  is  a 
cut  in  type-metal  of  a  snake  divided  into  parts, 
and  beneath  it  the  words  "  Join  or  Die." 

Both  the  design  and  the  cutting  were  the 
work  of  Franklin.  The  idea  of  union  had 
long  been  in  his  mind,  and  to  the  conference 
which  gathered  at  Albany  he  brought  a  care 
fully  drawn  plan.  The  credit  of  that  plan  is 
commonly  given  to  him.  But  it  ought  in  jus 
tice  never  to  be  mentioned  without  a  reference 
to  the  name  of  Daniel  Coxe.  Thirty-two  years 
before,  when  Franklin  was  mixing  ink  and 
setting  type  in  the  office  of  the  "New  England 
Courant,"  Coxe  published  a  tract  called  "  A 
Description  of  the  English  Province  of  Caro- 
lana,"  and  in  the  preface  of  that  tract  is  the 
Albany  plan.  So  early  as  1722  Coxe  foresaw 
the  French  aggression,  called  on  the  colonies  to 
unite  to  prevent  it,  and  drew  up  the  heads  of 
a  scheme  for  united  action.  Coxe  proposed  a 
governor-general  appointed  by  the  crown,  and 


ALBANY  PLAN  OF   UNION.  163 

a  congress  of  delegates  chosen  by  the  assem 
blies  of  the  colonies.  Franklin  proposed  the 
very  same  thing.  Coxe  would  have  each  colony 
send  two  delegates  annually  elected.  Franklin 
would  have  from  two  to  seven  delegates  tri- 
ennially  elected.  By  each  the  governor-gen 
eral  was  given  a  veto.  By  each  the  grand 
council,  with  consent  of  the  governor-general, 
was  to  determine  the  quotas  of  men,  money, 
and  provisions  the  colonies  should  contribute  to 
the  common  defense.  The  difference  between 
them  is  a  difference  in  detail,  not  in  plan.  The 
detail  belongs  to  Franklin.  The  plan  must  be 
ascribed  to  Coxe. 

Excellent  as  the  Albany  plan  was,  the  colo 
nies  and  the  home  government  alike  rejected 
it :  no  unity  of  action  followed  ;  and  the  war, 
which  a  little  energy,  a  little  unity,  would  soon 
have  ended,  dragged  on  for  nine  years. 

And  now  that  the  colonies  could  devise  no 
scheme  for  defending  themselves,  the  king 
determined  to  defend  them,  and  entrusted  the 
task  to  Edmund  Braddock.  Doomed  to  meet 
with  a  terrible  fate,  he  landed  at  Alexandria 
in  1755,  marched  to  Fredericktown,  and  scoured 
the  country  for  horses,  wagons,  and  army  sup 
plies.  No  sooner  was  his  arrival  in  Virginia 
known,  than  Franklin  was  sent  by  the  assembly 
of  Pennsylvania  to  explain  why  they  still  per- 


164  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

sis  ted  in  refusing  supplies.  He  performed  the 
mission  with  his  usual  tact  and  skill,  and  quit 
the  camp  with  a  contract  in  his  pocket  to  fur 
nish  horses,  wagons,  drivers,  and  a  pack-train  to 
7  the  army  of  the  king.  To  persuade  the  farm 
ers  of  Lancaster  and  York  to  part  with  their 
beasts  in  such  a  cause  was  no  easy  thing.  But 
he  knew  his  men,  and  in  a  very  carefully  worded 
address  so  tempted  their  greed  and  roused  their 
fear,  that  in  less  than  a  fortnight  the  teams 
and  wagons  set  out  for  the  camp  at  Wills 
Creek. 

For  this  he  was  thanked  by  the  assembly  and 
praised  by  the  people,  who  soon  gave  him  an 
opportunity  to  serve  them  again.  In  the  ruin 
which  overwhelmed  the  army  of  Braddock,  the 
whole  frontier  was  left  exposed.  The  expedi 
tion  against  Niagara  got  no  further  than  Os- 
wego.  The  expedition  against  Crown  Point 
stopped  at  the  foot  of  Lake  George.  Stirred 
up  by  the  French,  and  excited  by  victory,  the 
Indians  hurried  eastward,  and  by  November 
were  burning,  plundering,  scalping,  massacring, 
within  eighty  miles  of  Philadelphia.  Bethle 
hem  was  threatened,  Gnadenhutten  was  laid 
waste.  In  Lancaster  and  Easton,  men  trem 
bled  for  their  lives.  To  overawe  the  governor, 
the  assembly,  the  Quakers,  and  compel  them  to 
put  the  province  in  a  state  of  defense,  the 


"  DIALOGUE  BETWEEN  X,   Y,  AND  Z»      165 

mangled  bodies  of  a  family  the  Indians  had 
killed  were  carried  about  the  city  in  an  open 
cart,  and  laid  out  before  the  state-house  door. 
The  Quakers  had  long  refused  either  to  fight 
themselves,  or  furnish  the  means  for  others  to 
fight.  The  governor  would  approve  110  tax 
levy  from  which  the  proprietary  estates  were 
not  expressly  exempt.  The  assembly  would 
pass  no  tax-bill  in  which  the  lands  of  the  pro 
prietaries  were  not  included.  But,  in  the  ter 
rible  days  that  followed  the  news  of  Brad- 
dock's  defeat,  all  parties  began  to  give  waj\ 
The  Penns  bade  their  treasurer  add  five  thou 
sand  pounds  to  any  sum  the  assembly  raised 
for  purposes  of  defense.  The  assembly  voted 
sixty  thousand  pounds,  named  Franklin  one 
of  seven  commissioners  for  expending  it,  and 
hurried  through  a  militia  bill  which  Frank 
lin  prepared.  The  preamble  exempted  Qua 
kers  from  bearing  arms.  Numbers  of  men 
would  not  in  consequence  enlist.  They  would 
not,  they  said,  fight  for  men  who  would  not  fight 
for  them.  To  shame  them,  Franklin  again 
had  recourse  to  his  pen,  and  wrote  "  A  Dialogue 
between  X,  Y  and  Z  concerning  the  present 
State  of  Affairs  in  Pennsylvania,"  and  pub 
lished  it  in  the  "  Gazette." 

The  effect  of  the  "  Dialogue  "  seems  to  have 
been  considerable,  and  when,  in  the  middle  of 


166  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

December,  a  call  was  made  for  troops  to  defend 
the  frontier,  five  hundred  and  forty  men  re 
sponded.  Franklin  accepted  the  command,  and, 
with  his  son  William  as  aid-de-camp,  set  out 
for  the  ruins  of  Gnadenhutten.  There  he  passed 
two  months  hunting  Indians  and  building  forts, 
till  urgent  letters  came  from  his  friends  and 
from  the  governor  begging  him  to  return.  The 
assembly  was  soon  to  meet.  The  old  quarrel 
was  to  be  renewed,  and  Franklin  could  not  be 
spared. 

But  the  assembly  met,  adjourned,  and  met 
again,  and  a  new  governor  came  out  from  Eng 
land  before  the  crisis  was  reached.  It  was  in 
December,  1756,  that  the  patience  of  the  as 
sembly,  so  long  and  sorely  tried,  gave  way. 
The  affairs  of  the  colonies  were  desperate.  The 
French  had  taken  Oswego  and  Fort  George 
and  razed  them  to  the  ground.  The  expedition 
against  Ticonderoga  had  come  to  naught.  That 
up  the  Kennebec  had  done  no  better.  Fort 
Duquesne  had  not  surrendered,  while  the  fort 
and  settlement  at  Grenville  had  been  sacked. 
The  whole  frontier  of  Pennsylvania,  indeed, 
was  unprotected.  Meantime  the  treasury  was 
empty,  and  the  foe  more  bold  and  insolent  than 
ever.  To  meet  the  needs  of  the  hour,  the  as 
sembly  now  laid  a  tax  of  £60,000,  and  to  make 
it  acceptable  to  the  governor  laid  it,  not  on 


FRANKLIN  SENT  TO  ENGLAND.  167 

the  Perm  estate,  but  on  wine,  rum,  brandy,  and 
liquors.  But  the  governor  would  not  consent. 
A  conference  followed,  the  bill  came  back  to 
the  house,  and  with  it  came  the  tart  assurance 
that  he  would  send  his  reasons  to  the  king. 

Then  the  assembly  for  the  first  time  began 
to  act  and  to  speak  boldly.  They  ordered  such 
a  money  bill  to  be  prepared  as  the  governor 
would  sign.  They  resolved  to  send  home  a 
remonstrance  setting  forth  the  evils  that  would 
come  on  Pennsylvania  if  governed,  not  by  the 
laws  and  charters,  but  by  the  instructions  of 
the  Penns,  and  they  chose  two  members  to  rep 
resent  the  province  in  England.  Isaac  Norris 
refused  to  serve.  But  Franklin  accepted,  and 
the  next  five  years  of  his  life  were  spent  in 
England. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

1756-1764. 

THESE  five  years  were  in  many  respects  the 
most  glorious  and  the  most  important  in  Eng 
lish  history.  At  last  the  long  series  of  disasters 
which  had  overwhelmed  the  royal  armies  had 
ended.  Since  the  day  the  Great  Commoner  took 
the  post  of  secretary,  victory  had  followed  vic 
tory  with  amazing  rapidity.  In  July,  1758, 
Louisburg  surrendered ;  then  Cape  Breton 
fell ;  and  the  great  French  fleet,  the  terror  of 
the  coast,  was  annihilated.  Scarcely  had  the 
captured  standards  been  hung  in  St.  Paul's 
when  1759  opened,  and  the  nation  beard  with 
delight  of  the  conquest  of  Goree ;  of  the  fall 
of  Guadaloupe,  Ticonderoga,  and  Niagara ;  of 
the  capture  of  Quebec.  Before  1760  closed 
Montreal  capitulated ;  the  arms  of  England 
were  triumphant  in  Canada,  in  India,  on  the 
sea,  and  the  old  king  died. 

With  the  accession  of  the  new  king  arose  a 
cry  for  peace.  The  Tories,  with  George  III.  at 
their  head,  were  clamorous  for  peace  on  any 


A  PRETENDED   OLD  BOOK. 


terms.  The  Whigs,  with  Pitt  at  their  head, 
were  for  a  vigorous  prosecution  of  the  war  ;  and 
no  Pittite  believed  more  firmly  in  this  policy 
than  Franklin,  and  believing  in  it  he  wrote  in 
its  defense. 

He  pretended  that,  while  ransacking  the  old 
book-stalls,  he  had  found  a  book  printed  at  Lon 
don  in  1629.  The  cover  was  gone ;  the  title- 
page  was  wanting.  But  he  believed  the  work 
was  written  by  a  Jesuit,  and  addressed  to  some 
king  of  Spain.  Reading  it  over,  he  was  struck 
to  see  how  aptly  the  remarks  in  one  of  the 
chapters  applied  to  present  affairs.  It  was  the 
thirty-fourth,  and  bore  the  heading,  "  On  the 
Meanes  of  disposing  the  Enemie  to  Peace." 
War,  the  Jesuit  said,  with  whatsoever  pru 
dence  carried  on,  did  not  always  succeed. 
The  best  designs  were  often  overthrown  by 
famine,  pestilence,  and  storm ;  so  that  enemies 
at  first  weak  became  by  these  helps  strong, 
made  conquests,  and,  puffed  with  success,  re 
fused  to  make  peace  but  on  their  own  harsh 
terms.  Yet  it  was  possible  by  dexterous  man 
agement  to  get  back  all  that  had  been  lost  by 
the  cross  accidents  of  war.  If  the  minds  of  the 
enemy  could  only  be  changed,  they  would  often 
give  up,  willingly  and  for  nothing,  more  than 
could  be  obtained  by  force.  Now  this  change 
of  mind,  particularly  in  England,  might  be  se- 


170  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

cured  by  the  distribution  of  a  few  doubloons. 
There  were  many  men  of  learning,  ingenious 
speakers  and  able  writers,  who,  despite  their 
ability,  were  pinched  by  fortune  and  of  low  es 
tate.  A  little  money  would  gain  them,  and, 
once  gained,  let  them  be  bidden,  in  sermons, 
speeches,  poems,  songs,  and  essays,  to  enlarge 
mightily  on  the  blessings  of  peace.  Let  them 
dwell  on  the  horrors  of  war,  on  the  waste  of 
blood  and  treasure,  on  commerce  destroyed,  on 
ships  captured,  on  taxes  greatly  increased,  on 
the  smallness  and  sickliness  of  the  captured 
places,  and  on  the  great  cost  to  the  country  if 
they  be  not  given  back.  Let  this  be  done,  and 
the  simple,  undiscerning  many  will  be  quickly 
carried  away  by  the  plausible  arguments.  Then 
will  rich  men  having  property  to  be  taxed,  mer 
chants  having  ships  to  lose,  officers  of  the  army 
and  navy  who  wish  to  enjoy  their  pay  in  quiet, 
unite  in  one  great  cry  for  peace.  Then  will 
peace  be  made,  and  places  lost  to  the  enemy  by 
the  accidents  of  war  be  willingly  restored. 

The  letter  attracted  much  attention  at  the 
time,  and  found  its  way  into  the  Gentlemen's 
Magazine.  But  the  king's  friends  carried  the 
day  and  the  French  and  Indian  war  ended. 
France  was  indeed  defeated,  but  she  was  not 
conquered.  To  hold  everything  taken  from  her 
was  therefore  impossible,  and  the  question  be- 


INT E  RES  TS  OF  ORE  A  T  BRITAIN  CONSIDERED.    171 

came,  What  shall  be  given  up  ?  Shall  it  be  Can 
ada  or  Guadaloupe  ?  Shall  it  be  the  conquest  in 
America  or  the  conquest  in  the  Indies  ?  The 
Earl  of  Bath,  in  a  "  Letter  to  Two  Great  Men 
on  the  Prospect  of  Peace,"  was  for  keeping  Can 
ada.  William  Burke,  in  his  "  Remarks  on  the 
Letter  addressed  to  Two  Great  Men,"  was  for 
keeping  Guadaloupe.  The  author  of  "  The  In 
terest  of  Great  Britain  considered  with  regard 
to  her  Colonies  "  supported  the  Earl  of  Bath. 
Who  was  the  author  remained  long  in  doubt. 
Benjamin  Mecom  at  once  reprinted  the  pam 
phlet,  and  ascribed  it  to  Franklin.  Franklin 
during  his  lifetime  was  heard  to  say  that  in 
writing  it  he  had  been  greatly  helped  by  a 
friend.  There  is  now  no  doubt  that  this  friend 
was  Richard  Jackson,  the  agent  of  Pennsyl 
vania  and  Connecticut  in  England,  that  he  did 
most  of  the  work  and  that  Franklin  made  most 
of  the  suggestions.  Indeed,  it  now  appears  from 
the  manuscripts  at  Washington  that  in  1780  a 
correspondence  took  place  on  the  subject  be 
tween  Dr.  Priestley,  Baron  Meseres,  and  the 
editor  of  an  unknown  magazine.  The  letters  of 
Priestley  are  gone ;  but  those  of  Meseres  and 
the  editor  are  preserved,  and  in  them  the  partic 
ular  paragraphs  Franklin  wrote  are  marked  out. 
Meseres,  who  had  his  information  from  Jackson, 
ascribes  to  Franklin  all  the  notes  and  less  than 


172  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

one  third  the  text.  He  declares  also  that  the 
lines  printed  in  italics  at  the  heads  of  the  para 
graphs  ought  not  to  be  there,  but  in  the  margin 
as  notes. 

The  pamphlet  went  through  two  editions  at 
London  and  two  at  Boston,  and  called  forth  a 
long  reply.  But  the  answer  availed  nothing. 
The  Treaty  of  Paris  was  signed,  and  Canada 
was  not  given  up. 

Franklin  in  the  mean  while  went  back  to  Phil 
adelphia.  There  for  a  time  he  seems  to  have 
thought  of  quitting  politics,  living  at  his  ease, 
building  a  fine  house,  and  passing  his  time  in 
studying  electricity  and  writing  a  work  on  the 
"  Art  of  Virtue."  Had  he  done  so,  the  book 
would,  unquestionably,  have  been  very  ingen 
ious  and  very  amusing,  would  have  abounded 
in  apt  illustrations,  sound  maxims,  wit,  and 
good  stories  well  told  ;  but  it  would  have  done 
as  little  for  the  encouragement  of  virtue  as  the 
three  books  of  Seneca  have  done  for  the  sup 
pression  of  anger. 

From  such  a  fate  he  was  happily  saved  by 
being  again  drawn  into  politics.  The  rejoicing 
that  followed  the  Peace  of  Paris  had  not  had 
time  to  die  away  when  the  country  heard 
with  horror  of  that  great  Indian  uprising 
known  to  history  as  the  Conspiracy  of  Pon- 
tiac.  Scarcely  had  the  trees  put  forth  their 


CONSPIRACY  OF  PONT1AC.  173 

leaves  when  hordes  of  savages  stole  from  their 
villages  and  laid  waste  the  frontier  posts.  In 
quick  succession  fell  Sandusky  and  St.  Joseph, 
and  the  Miamis  forts,  and  Niagara  and  Ve- 
nango,  and  Michilimackinac  and  Presque  Isle. 
Pontiac  himself  besieged  Detroit.  The  people 
of  Le  Boeuf  quit  their  village  and  fled  for 
their  lives.  The  Indians,  sweeping  eastward, 
attacked  Fort  Pitt.  Scalping  parties  raided  the 
whole  western  border  of  Pennsylvania,  burning, 
sacking,  murdering  everywhere.  Thousands 
of  settlers,  leaving  everything  behind  them,  fled 
to  Carlisle.  Hundreds  more  sought  safety  in 
the  woods  that  lined  the  Susquehanna.  The 
whole  state  was  in  commotion,  but  nowhere  was 
the  alarm  greater  than  among  the  Scotch-Irish 
of  Lancaster.  Scattered  among  them  here  and 
there  were  little  bands  of  red  men  the  Mora 
vian  missionaries  had  persuaded  to  accept  the 
name  of  Christ.  Some  were  at  Bethlehem; 
some  were  at  Nazareth ;  some  had  been 
assigned  lands  on  the  Manor  of  Conestoga. 
There,  under  the  influence  of  the  missionaries 
they  became  the  most  harmless  and  innocent 
of  men ;  put  off  paint  and  feathers ;  put  on 
hats  and  clothes,  adopted  English  habits,  Eng 
lish  names,  English  speech,  and  learned  to 
make,  for  a  living,  baskets  and  brooms.  But 
to  the  Scotch-Irishmen  of  Lancaster  they  were 


174  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

still  Indians,  and  Indians  were  in  their  eyes 
men  cursed  of  God.  They  were  the  Canaan- 
ites  of  the  New  World.  The  command  laid  on 
Joshua  of  old  was  binding  still.  It  was  the 
duty  of  every  follower  of  the  crucified  Lord  to 
drive  out  heathen  from  the  land.  Threats  were 
made,  sermons  were  preached,  handbills  were 
spread  about,  till  what  was  elsewhere  a  war  of 
defense  became  in  Lancaster  a  religious  cru 
sade.  Alarmed  at  what  was  going  on  about 
them,  the  Indians  at  Bethlehem  and  Nazareth 
cried  out  for  protection,  were  taken  to  an  island 
in  the  Delaware,  and  sent  thence  under  military 
escort  to  the  borders  of  New  York.  But  the 
Conestoga  Indians,  numbering  twenty  —  men, 
women,  and  children,  all  told  —  had  stayed  on 
the  Manor,  and  it  was  on  them  that,  one  night 
late  in  December,  1763,  a  band  of  fanatics  from 
Donegal  and  Pax  tang  (or  Paxton)  made  a 
descent.  No  more  than  six  of  the  Indians 
were  at  home,  and  these  were  murdered  in  cold 
blood.  Horrified  at  such  barbarity,  the  author 
ities  of  Lancaster  gathered  the  remnant  of  the 
tribe  in  the  workhouse.  Even  there  they  were 
not  safe,  and  a  hundred  brutes  from  Paxton 
and  Donegal  broke  open  the  workhouse,  massa 
cred  the  fourteen  Indians  there  confined,  and 
rode  away,  declaring  their  next  attack  would  be 
on  the  Indians  at  Province  Island.  Nor  was  the 


THE  "PAXTON  BOYS:1  175 

threat  an  idle  one.  Early  in  January  the  men 
of  Lebanon,  Paxton,  and  Hanover  began  form 
ing  companies  preparatory  to  the  attack. 

The  Indians,  in  terror  for  their  lives,  begged 
hard  that  they  might  be  sent  to  England.  To 
grant  this  request  was  impossible  ;  so  it  was 
determined  to  send  them  to  Sir  William  John 
son  in  Central  New  York.  Some  Highlanders 
about  to  march  to  New  York  agreed  to  escort 
the  !  Indians.  Governor  Franklin  gave  them 
leave  to  cross  New  Jersey,  and  they  were  soon 
safe  at  Amboy.  There  trouble  arose.  Golden 
would  not  suffer  them  to  enter  New  York ; 
they  could  not  stay  in  New  Jersey,  and  were 
quickly  marched  back  to  Philadelphia,  protected 
by  troops  sent  by  General  Gage. 

At  Philadelphia  the  Indians  were  lodged  in 
the  new  barracks  in  Northern  Liberties. 
Scarcely  was  this  accomplished  when  news 
arrived  that  the  Paxton  Boys  were  surely  com 
ing.  One,  Robert  Fulton  by  name,  deposed  to 
Penn  that  he  had  heard  the  leading  men  of 
Lancaster  declare  that  in  ten  days'  time  they 
would  have  the  scalp  of  every  Moravian  Indian 
in  the  town.  Penn  therefore  ordered  some 
troops  at  Carlisle  to  march  into  Lancaster,  and 
sent  word  to  the  barracks  to  fire  on  any  body  of 
men  that  approached  in  a  hostile  manner. 

On  Saturday,   the  4th  of  February,  it  was 


176  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

known  that  the  Paxtons  were  really  armed  and 
marching.  Some  said  they  were  five  hundred, 
some  seven  hundred,  some  fifteen  hundred 
strong.  What  to  do,  the  governor  knew  not ; 
so  he  fled  to  Franklin's  house  for  protection, 
and  summoned  the  citizens  to  meet  at  the  state- 
house  in  the  afternoon.  Though  the  day  was 
cold  and  stormy,  three  thousand  at  least  are 
said  to  have  obeyed  the  call,  and  to  have  en 
rolled  one  hundred  and  fifty  men  to  spend  the 
night  under  arms  at  the  barracks.  There,  all 
was  hurry  and  preparation.  Cannon  and  powder 
were  brought  from  the  state-house  ;  and  during 
Sunday,  carpenters  were  kept  hard  at  work 
fortifying  the  gates,  and  putting  up  a  redoubt 
in  the  center  of  the  barracks  yard. 

Towards  evening,  rumors  were  afloat  that  the 
Paxtons  had  been  seen.  At  eleven  and  at 
three  at  night,  expresses  rode  into  town  with 
positive  assurance  that  the  enemy  was  near. 
Instantly  the  watch  was  bidden  to  shout  the 
news  in  the  streets ;  the  church  bells  were 
rung,  drums  were  beaten,  and,  while  the  women 
hastened  to  put  candles  in  the  windows  to  light 
the  streets,  the  men  set  off  for  the  barracks. 
By  sunrise  six  hundred  were  under  arms,  and, 
to  the  amazement  of  the  community,  not  an 
inconsiderable  part  were  young  Quakers. 

When  something  like  order  had  been  estab- 


THE  "PAXTON  BOYS."  Ill 

lished,  scouts  were  sent  out  to  explore  each 
road,  while  parties  were  dispatched  to  cut  the 
ropes  and  secure  the  boats  at  the  upper  arid 
lower  ferries.  Suddenly  it  was  remembered 
that  the  boats  at  the  Swedes  ferry  on  the  Dela 
ware  were  not  secured,  and  an  armed  band 
went  off  to  sink  them.  But  they  were  too  late. 
The  Paxton  Boys  had  already  crossed  and  were 
even  then  at  Germantown. 

The  nearness  of  the  foe  increased  both  curi 
osity  and  alarm.  Some,  who  had  never  beheld 
a  band  of  frontiersmen  in  their  life,  rode  off  to 
Germantown,  and  on  their  return  described  the 
Paxtons  as  a  fine  set  of  fellows,  dressed  in 
blanket  coats  and  moccasins,  and  armed  with 
knives,  tomahawks,  and  guns.  Others  were  for 
marching  out,  surrounding  the  men  from  Lan 
caster,  and  taking  them  prisoners.  But  cooler 
heads  prevailed,  and  a  committee,  of  which 
Franklin  was  one,  met  the  malcontents  on 
Tuesday  morning,  remonstrated  with  them,  and 
received  a  written  remonstrance  in  return. 

The  document  had  been  written  by  some  one 
at  Philadelphia  and  contained  eight  grievances. 
It  was  thought  unjust  that,  while  the  counties 
of  Lancaster,  Berks,  Northampton,  Cumberland, 
and  York  sent  in  all  but  ten  delegates  to  the 
assembly,  Philadelphia,  Bucks,  and  Chester 
should  send  twenty-six.  It  was  felt  to  be  a 


178  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

grievance  that  a  bill  should  have  been  intro 
duced  that  persons  accused  of  killing  Indians 
on  the  frontier  should  be  tried,  not  in  the  county 
where  the  alleged  crime  was  committed,  but  in 
Chester,  Philadelphia,  or  Bucks.  It  was  insisted 
that  while  the  war  lasted  all  Indians  should  be 
sent  out  of  the  inhabited  districts  ;  that  the 
wounded  on  the  border  should  be  cared  for  at 
public  expense ;  that  rewards  should  be  offered 
for  Indian  scalps ;  and  that  Israel  Pemberton 
should  not  be  allowed  to  treat  with  the  Indians 
and  take  gifts  of  wampum  like  a  governor.  This 
document  delivered,  the  Paxtons  were  taken  to 
the  barracks,  shown  the  Indians,  and  asked  to 
point  out  the  murderers  of  their  friends.  They 
could  recognize  but  one,  and  she  an  old  squaw. 
Much  pacified,  they  rode  back  to  Lancaster. 

While  every  Presbyterian  preacher,  every 
Episcopalian  parson,  and  not  a  few  of  the  So 
ciety  of  Friends,  lauded  the  foul  deed  of  the 
Paxton  Boys  as  an  act  acceptable  to  God,  it  is 
pleasing  to  find  that  Franklin  had  the  boldness 
to  call  it  what  it  was.  In  a  pamphlet  entitled 
"A  Narrative  of  the  late  Massacre,  in  Lancaster 
County,  of  a  Number  of  Indians,  Friends  of  the 
Province,  by  Persons  Unknown,"  he  labored 
hard  to  bring  the  people  to  a  true  sense  of  the 
enormity  of  the  crime.  He  told  a  plain, 
straightforward  story  of  the  first  murder  ;  men- 


THE   "NARRATIVE."  179 

tioned  the  names  of  the  slaughtered  Indians  ; 
described  their  harmless  character ;  gave  a 
graphic  picture  of  the  second  murder,  and  dwelt 
with  deep  contempt  on  the  infamy  of  justifying 
such  acts  by  pretending  they  were  sanctioned 
by  a  just  God.  He  drew  from  the  history  of 
the  Greeks,  the  Turks,  the  Moors,  the  Sara 
cens,  the  African  Negroes,  the  Six  Nations,  in 
stances  of  how  sacred  these  people  held  that 
right  of  hospitality  the  Paxtons  had  so  shame 
fully  violated.  He  insisted  that,  even  if  the 
Indians  were  guilty  of  the  offenses  charged, 
they  should  have  been  punished  by  the  courts, 
not  butchered. 

And  now  the  people  and  the  assembly  were 
torn  by  factions  in  which  religion  and  politics 
were  joined.  The  Presbyterians  and  the  Epis 
copalians  openly  approved  the  massacre,  wrote 
in  defense  of  it,  and  supported  the  action  of 
the  mob  and  of  John  Penn.  The  Quakers 
and  the  anti-proprietary  party  denounced  the 
massacre,  complained  of  the  conduct  of  Penn 
in  the  matter  of  the  supply  bill,  taxes,  and  the 
war,  and  warmly  defended  the  Moravian  Indi 
ans.  In  the  assembly  the  Quakers  and  their 
party  were  in  the  majority  and  determined  to 
do  what  they  had  long  been  urged  to  do,  —  pe 
tition  the  king  to  make  Pennsylvania  a  royal 
colony. 


180  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

Accordingly,  on  the  25th  of  March,  a  com 
mittee,  with  Franklin  at  their  head,  reported 
a  series  of  resolutions  censuring  the  proprieta 
ries,  describing  their  government  as  weak,  as 
unable  to  uphold  its  authority  or  maintain  in 
ternal  peace,  and  praying  his  majesty  to  re 
sume  the  government  of  the  province,  after 
making  such  compensation  to  the  Penns  as  was 
just.  The  assembly  passed  the  resolutions,  ad 
journed  to  consult  the  people,  and  met  again 
on  May  14th. 

Each  party  made  ready  for  the  struggle. 
Not  a  day  was  lost,  and  by  the  1st  of  April 
the  few  printers  in  the  city  were  hard  at  work 
on  pamphlets,  broadsides,  and  caricatures.  In 
the  whole  history  of  the  province  there  had 
never  been  in  so  short  a  time  such  a  number 
of  pamphlets  issued.  Before  September,  one 
printer  had  upon  his  shelves  fifteen,  each  bear 
ing  his  imprint.  The  list  of  titles  contains 
more  than  twenty.  There  were  "A  Brief  State 
of  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania,"  "  A  True  and 
Impartial  State  of  Pennsylvania,"  and  "  The 
Plain  Dealer,"  in  three  parts.  "  An  Address 
to  the  Freeholders  "  replied  to  one  number  of 
"  The  Plain  Dealer."  The  second  number  of 
"The  Plain  Dealer"  replied  to  "Cool  Thoughts 
on  the  Present  Situation  of  our  Public  Affairs," 
and  "  Cool  Thoughts  "  was  the  work  of  Frank- 


"  COOL   THOUGHTS."  181 

lin.  He  wrote  it  in  great  haste,  dated  it  April 
12,  1764,  and  sent  men  about  the  city  with 
copies  to  thrust  under  the  doors,  or  toss  through 
the  open  windows  of  dwelling-houses.1 

Though  done  hastily,  the  work  is  done  well. 
With  a  coolness  and  an  honesty  found  in  no 
other  tract,  he  reviews  the  cause  of  the  dispute  ; 
shows  that  all  the  proprietary  governments, 
New  Jersey,  Maryland,  Carolina,  have  suffered 
in  the  same  way ;  and  refutes  a  number  of  ob 
jections  which  he  pretends  have  been  made  by 
"  a  friend  in  the  country." 

The  voters  having  been  duly  consulted,  the 
assembly  met  on  May  14th  to  find  the  speak 
er's  table  white  with  petitions  in  favor  of  an 
address  to  the  king.  The  debate  was  long  ;  but 
the  two  speeches  that  best  set  forth  the  views 
of  each  party  were  made  by  John  Dickinson 
and  Joseph  Galloway.  Dickinson  spoke  in  be 
half  of  proprietary  government.  Galloway 
replied,  and  was  for  a  government  by  the  king, 
and  carried  the  day.  The  address  was  voted, 
and  the  assembly  about  to  bid  the  speaker  sign, 
when  Isaac  Norris,  who  held  the  chair,  asked 
for  time.  He  had,  he  reminded  his  hearers, 
been  a  member  of  the  assembly  for  thirty  years, 
and  speaker  for  nearly  fifteen.  He  could  not 
support  the  address,  and  as  he  must  as  speaker 

1  Plain  Dealer,  No.  2. 


182  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

sign  it,  he  hoped  he  might  have  time  to  pre 
pare  a  statement  of  his  objections.  A  short 
adjournment  was  made,  and  when  the  mem 
bers  reassembled,  Norris  resigned.  He  had 
been  taken  politically  sick,  sent  word  he  was 
too  ill  to  attend,  and  requested  that  another  be 
chosen  speaker  in  his  stead.  The  choice  fell 
on  Franklin,  who  as  speaker  gladly  signed  the 
petition  to  the  king,  and  the  assembly  rose. 

The  next  meeting  was  not  to  take  place  till 
October,  before  which  the  annual  election  was 
to  be  held.  As  a  campaign  document,  Dickin 
son  at  once  published  his  speech,  with  a  long 
preface  by  another  hand.  Thereupon  Gallo 
way's  speech  appeared,  with  a  preface  written 
by  Franklin.  Dickinson  then  protested  that 
Galloway's  speech  had  never  been  delivered. 
This  brought  out  a  broadside  from  Galloway, 
with  certificates  asserting  that  the  speech  had 
been  delivered,  and  a  scorching  review  entitled 
"  The  Maybe."  The  "  Maybe  "  got  its  name 
from  the  "  ifs "  and  "  maybes "  with  which 
Dickinson's  pamphlet  abounded. 

When  he  wrote  the  "  Preface  to  a  Speech," 
Franklin  unquestionably  was  thoroughly  roused. 
The  good-nature,  the  playful  humor,  the  mod 
est  suggestions  of  his  earlier  pieces  were  aban 
doned,  and  for  sarcasm,  energy,  force  of  argu 
ment,  the  Preface  is  unsurpassed. 


CARICATURES  OF  FRANKLIN.  183 

All  this  activity  served  to  make  him  a  butt 
for  the  wit  of  caricaturists  and  pamphleteers. 
In  the  corner  of  one  of  these  singular  produc 
tions  he  is  represented  standing  in  his  study, 
and  underneath  him  are  the  lines : 

Fight  dog,  fight  bear  !  you're  all  my  friends : 

By  you  I  shall  attain  my  ends, 

For  I  can  never  be  content 

Till  I  have  got  the  government. 

But  if  from  this  attempt  I  fall, 

Then  let  the  Devil  take  you  all ! 

In  a  second  he  holds  in  his  hand  a  roll  in 
scribed  "  Resolved  ye  Prop'r  a  knave  and  ty 
rant.  N.  C.  D.  Gov'r  do."  The  preface  to 
Dickinson's  oration  contained  an  epitaph  for  a 
monument  to  Penn,  made  up  of  fulsome  ex 
tracts  from  the  votes  of  the  assembly.  Franklin 
in  his  Preface  ridiculed  it  in  a  sketch,  "in  the 
lapidary  style,"  of  the  sons  of  Penn,  far  from 
flattering,  made  up  "  mostly  in  the  expressions 
and  everywhere  in  the  sense  and  spirit  of  the 
assembly's  resolves  and  messages."  For  this 
he  was  himself  made  the  subject  of  a  lampoon 
epitaph  in  the  lapidary  style.  This  summary 
of  his  false  learning,  his  political  trimming,  his 
treachery,  his  immorality,  his  thirst  for  power, 
forms  a  pamphlet  of  nine  pages,  and  ends  with 
the  injunction: 


184  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

Reader,  behold  this  striking  Instance  of 
Human  Depravity  and  Ingratitude  ; 

An  irrefragable  Proof 
That  neither  the  Capital  Services 

Of  Friends, 

Nor  the  attracting  Favours  of  the  Fair, 
Can  fix  the  Sincerity  of  a  Man, 
Devoid  of  Principles  and 

Ineffably  mean  : 
Whose  Ambition  is 

POWER, 

And  whose  intention  is 
TYRANNY. 

"  The  Scribbler  "  replied  to  the  "  Epitaph," 
but  was  lost  in  the  host  of  pamphlets  which, 
under  such  names  as  "  The  Paxtoniade,"  "  The 
Squabble,"  "The  Farce,"  "The  Paxton 
Raid,"  "  The  Cloven  Foot  Discovered,"  "  King 
Wampum,"  "A  Battle,  a  Battle,  a  Battle 
of  Squirt,"  overwhelmed  the  anti-proprietary 
party  with  ridicule  and  abuse.  For  rancor, 
for  that  bitter  hate  which  springs  from  reli 
gious  bigotry,  for  foulness  both  of  language 
and  of  thought,  the  pamphlets  named  cannot 
be  equalled. 

Everyone  knew,  as  October  came  on,  that  the 
great  contest  would  be  in  the  city.  At  the  head 
of  the  "old  ticket"  were  Franklin  and  Gal- 
loway  ;  Willing  and  Bryan  headed  the  "new." 
The  Dutch  Calvinists  and  the  Presbyterians 
to  a  man  supported  the  new  ticket,  and  were 


THE  ELECTION.  185 

joined  by  many  of  the  Dutch  Lutherans  and 
Church-of-England  men.  The  Moravians  and 
the  Quakers  supported  the  old  ticket,  and  drew 
some  of  the  McClenaghanites  to  their  side. 
Promptly  at  nine  in  the  morning  of  October 
1st  the  poll  was  opened,  but  so  great  was 
the  cro'wd  that  midnight  was  come  before  a 
voter  could  make  his  way  from  the  end  of  the 
line  to  the  polling  -  place  in  less  than  fifteen 
minutes.  Towards  three  in  the  morning  of 
the  2d  the  new-ticket  men  moved  to  close  the 
poll ;  but  the  old-ticket  men  would  not,  for  they 
had  in  reserve  numbers  of  aged  and  lame,  who 
could  not  stand  in  the  crowd.  These  they 
now  quietly  sent  off  to  bring  in,  and  the  streets 
were  soon  lively  with  men  being  hurried  along 
in  chairs  and  litters  to  the  voting-place.  The 
new-ticket  men,  seeing  this,  began  likewise  to 
exert  themselves,  sent  off  horsemen  to  German- 
town,  and  secured  so  many  voters  that  the  polls 
did  not  close  till  three  in  the  afternoon.  It  then 
took  till  the  next  day  to  count  off  the  votes, 
which  were  in  round  numbers  3,900.  When 
this  was  done,  Franklin  and  Galloway  were 
found  to  have  been  defeated.  "  Franklin,"  says 
one  who  saw  the  election,  "died  like  a  phi 
losopher.  But  Mr.  Galloway  agonized  in  death 
like  a  mortal  Deist  who  has  no  hopes  of  a 
future  life." 


186  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

During  the  election  great  numbers  of  squibs, 
half  sheets  and  quarter  sheets,  in  English  and 
German,  were  scattered  among  the  crowd. 
Some  were  general  in  their  abuse ;  some  were 
aimed  at  Dickinson,  some  at  Galloway,  while 
some  bore  especially  on  Franklin.  One  squib 
put  out  by  the  new  ticket  is  in  verse,  and  ridi 
culed  the  preface  to  Galloway's  speech  and  the 
intentions  of  the  Franklin  party : 

Advertisement  and  not  a  joke, 

A  speech  there  is  which  no  man  spoke ; 

This  month  or  next,  'tis  yet  a  doubt ; 

But  when  'tis  made  it  will  come  out, 

Midwifd  by  Philosophic  Paw, 

Tho'  mother'd  by  a  Man  of  Law. 

They  strain 'd  so  hard  to  do  it  clever, 

One  hann'd  his  Neck  bone,  one  his  liver. 

They  vow  to  get  eternal  fame, 

All  things  they  '11  charge,  yet  keep  the  same  : 

Thro'  rocks  and  shelves  our  bark  they  '11  paddle, 

And  fasten  George  in  Will's  old  saddle ; 

Just  as  they  please  they  '11  make  him  sit  it, 

Unscrubbed,  tho'  Will,  they  say,  ...  it. 

For  the  first  time  in  fourteen  years  Franklin 
now  found  himself  without  a  seat  in  the  assem 
bly.  But  his  friends  in  that  body  were  many 
and  stanch,  and  promptly  presented  his  name 
as  that  of  the  man  best  fitted  to  assist  Richard 
Jackson,  the  provincial  agent,  in  presenting  the 
petition  to  the  king.  Dickinson,  who  led  the 
proprietary  ranks,  spent  all  his  strength  and 


DICKINSON  ABUSES  FRANKLIN.  187 

eloquence  in  opposition.  He  described  Frank 
lin  as  the  most  hated  man  in  Pennsylvania. 
He  declared  such  an  appointment  would  inflame 
the  resentments  and  embitter  the  discontents 
of  the  people.  He  called  attention  to  the  heap 
of  remonstrances  against  such  action  that  lay 
on  the  table,  and  demanded  to  know  why  the 
assembly  should  send  to  represent  the  colony 
the  man  most  obnoxious  to  the  people,  a  man 
who,  after  fourteen  years  of  service,  had  just 
been  turned  out  of  the  assembly.  But  the 
house  understood  that  Dickinson  was  burning 

o 

and  longing  for  the  place  himself,  and,  by  a  vote 
of  nineteen  to  eleven,  chose  Franklin  an  agent 
of  the  province. 

Not  content  with  this  defeat,  the  minority 
now  protested,  moved  to  have  the  protest  spread 
upon  the  minutes,  and  again  saw  their  motion 
voted  down.  Thereupon  they  published  the 
protest  in  the  newspapers,  and  were  answered 
by  Franklin  in  a  little  pamphlet  entitled  "  Re 
marks  on  a  Protest."  Two  days  later  he  set 
out  for  London.  But  scarcely  had  the  ship  put 
out  to  sea  when  "  An  Answer  to  Mr.  Franklin's 
Remarks  on  a  Late  Protest "  appeared,  and  his 
friend  John  Hughes  took  up  his  cause.  Hughes 
proposed  that,  once  for  all,  the  charges  against 
Franklin  should  be  proved  true  or  false,  and 
offered  to  give  five  pounds  to  the  hospital  for 


188  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

each  charge  proven  true,  if  some  man  of  char 
acter  would  give  a  like  sum  to  the  hospital  for 
each  charge  shown  to  be  false.  But  neither 
Dickinson  nor  any  of  his  friends  replied. 

"  Thus,"  wrote  Israel  Pembertoii  the  liber 
tine,  the  King  Wampum  of  the  caricatures, 
"  thus  Benjamin  Franklin  is  again  employed 
in  another  negotiation.  It  is  alleged  by  those 
who  have  urged  it  most  that  his  knowledge  and 
interest  will  do  great  service  to  ye  colonies  by 
obtaining  some  alleviation  of  those  inconven 
iences  we  are  subjected  to  by  some  late  acts  of 
Parliament,  and  of  prevention  of  others  with 
which  we  are  threatened.  His  dependence  on 
ye  ministry  for  ye  Posts  he  and  his  son  hold 
forbids  my  expectation  of  his  opposing  their 
measures  with  much  spirit ;  and  some  of  us,  who 
know  his  fixed  aversion  to  ye  Proprietaries  and 
their  governor,  are  not  without  apprehensions, 
if  he  can  recommend  himself  by  an  immediate 
change  of  it,  that  he  will  soon  attempt  it."  ... 


CHAPTER  VII. 
1764-1776. 

ON  the  evening  of  the  10th  of  December, 
1764,  Franklin  reached  London.  As  one  of 
the  agents  from  Pennsylvania,  his  duty  was  to 
present  the  petition  with  all  the  speed  he 
could.  But  he  found  the  three  colonial  agents 
striving  to  prevent  the  introduction  of  the 
stamp  act,  and  joined  heartily  with  them. 

From  the  time  the  colonies  were  strong 
enough  and  rich  enough  to  furnish  men  and 
money  to  the  royal  cause,  such  supplies  had 
always  been  obtained  by  requisition.  The 
requisition  was  a  circular  letter  from  the  Crown 
to  the  governors,  was  transmitted  by  the  gov 
ernors  to  the  assemblies,  made  known  the  wants 
of  the  king,  bade  the  assemblies  take  these 
wants  into  serious  consideration,  and  expressed 
a  firm  reliance  on  the  prudence,  duty,  and 
affection  of  loyal  subjects  to  vote  such  sums  of 
money  and  enlist  such  bodies  of  men  as  the 
king  needed.  To  this  no  objection  was  ever 
made.  The  king  obtained  the  money,  and  the 


190  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

people  raised  it  by  taxes  their  chosen  represen 
tatives  imposed. 

But  now,  on  a  sudden,  the  British  ministry 
determined  to  change  the  plan.  Henceforth 
parliament  was  to  lay  internal  taxes ;  and  the 
taxes  they  proposed  to  lay  and  did  lay,  were 
fifty-four  in  number,  and  comprised  the  stamp 
act.  It  is  commonly  believed  that  this  famous 
tax  was  the  first  of  its  kind  known  in  Amer 
ica.  But  this  is  a  mistake,  for  twice  had 
stamp  taxes  been  willingly  laid  and  willingly 
borne,  and,  when  they  expired,  as  willingly  re 
newed.  The  first  was  imposed  for  one  year  by 
Massachusetts  in  1755,  and  reenacted  in  1756. 
The  other  was  passed  by  New  York  in  De 
cember,  1756.  It  ran  for  one  year,  was  re 
newed  in  1757  for  another  year,  and  created 
neither  discontent  nor  opposition.  Against 
stamp  duties,  New  York  and  Massachusetts 
could  therefore  make  no  complaint.  It  was 
against  stamp  duties  laid  without  consent  of  the 
colonies  that  the  four  London  agents  protested 
vigorously  on  the  2d  of  February,  1765.  Gren- 
ville  admitted  them  to  audience,  listened  pa 
tiently  to  the  old  plea,  no  taxation  without 
representation,  and  dismissed  them,  as  firmly 
convinced  of  the  wisdom  of  his  plan  as  ever. 
On  the  22d  of  March  parliament  passed  the 
act.  In  May  news  of  the  passage  reached  Amer- 


TEE  STAMP  ACT.  191 

ica,  and  it  was  soon  known  in  Philadelphia  that 
John  Hughes,  the  man  who  had  so  stoutly  de 
fended  the  good  name  of  Franklin,  was  stamp 
distributer  for  Pennsylvania. 

Shortly  after  the  passage  of  the  act,  Gren- 
ville  sent  for  the  colonial  agents,  and,  through 
the  secretary,  invited  each  to  name  a  proper 
person  to  act  as  stamp-agent  in  America.  They 
complied,  and  Franklin  named  his  old  friend 
John  Hughes.  The  conduct  of  Franklin  in 
this  affair  exhibits  strange  ignorance  of  the 
temper  of  his  countrymen.  That  there  would 
be  grumblings,  complainings,  and  threaten  ings 
he  was  fully  aware.  That  there  would  be  open 
defiance  and  mob  violence  seems  never  to  have 
entered  his  mind.  He  looked  upon  the  stamp 
tax  as  established,  and  supposing  no  opposition 
would  be  made,  he  shrewdly  determined  to  se 
cure  from  it  all  the  benefit  he  could.  To  one 
friend  he  wrote :  "  Depend  upon  it,  my  good 
neighbor,  I  took  every  step  in  my  power  to 
prevent  the  passage  of  the  stamp  act ;  nobody 
could  be  more  concerned  in  interest  than  my 
self  to  oppose  it,  sincerely  and  heartily.  But 
the  tide  was  too  strong  for  us.  The  nation 
was  provoked  by  American  claims  of  indepen 
dence,  and  all  parties  joined  in  resolving  by 
this  act  to  settle  the  point.  We  might  as  well 
have  hindered  the  sun's  setting.  That  we  could 


192  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

not  do.  But  since  't  is  down,  my  friend,  and  it 
may  be  long  before  it  rises  again,  let  us  make 
as  good  a  night  of  it  as  we  can.  We  may  still 
light  candles.  Frugality  and  Industry  will  go 
a  great  way  towards  indemnifying  us.  Idleness 
and  Pride  tax  with  a  heavier  hand  than  kings 
and  parliaments.  If  we  can  get  rid  of  the 
former  we  may  easily  bear  the  latter."  Act 
ing  on  his  own  advice,  he  now  attempted  to 
make  a  good  night  of  it,  and  sent  over  a  quan 
tity  of  unstamped  paper  to  his  partner,  David 
Hall,  for  assurances  had  been  given  that  the 
paper  could  be  stamped  in  America.  Had  this 
been  allowed,  the  profit  to  the  firm  would  have 
been  considerable.  But  it  was  not  allowed, 
and  the  paper  went  back  to  England  to  be 
stamped,  at  great  cost  to  Franklin.1 

1  His  letter  regarding  it  bears  date  August  9th,  1765. 
"  I  receiv'd  yours  of  June  21  and  22.  I  have  wrote  my 
Mind  fully  to  you  in  former  Letters,  relating  to  the  Stamp 
Act,  so  that  I  have  but  little  to  add  except  what  you  desire  to 
know  about  the  2/"  on  Advertisements.  It  is  undoubtedly  to 
be  paid  every  Time  the  Advertisement  is  inserted.  As  to  the 
paper  sent  over,  I  did  it  for  the  best,  having  at  that  time 
Expectations  given  me  that  we  might  have  had  it  Stamped 
there,  in  which  case  you  would  have  had  great  advantage 
over  the  other  Printers,  since  if  they  were  not  provided  with 
such  Paper,  they  must  have  either  printed  but  a  half  sheet 
Common  Demi,  or  paid  for  two  Stamps  on  each  sheet.  The 
Plan  was  afterwards  altered  notwithstanding  all  I  could 
do.  ... 

"  I  would  not  have  you  by  any  means  drop  the  newspaper, 


FEELING  AGAINST  HU 


In  July,  1765,  the  Grenville  ministry  fell 
from  power.  News  of  the  change  was  brought 
to  Philadelphia  one  Sunday  in  September.  The 
people  could  scarcely  wait  till  Monday  to  ex 
press  their  joy.  The  stamp  act,  they  felt  con 
fident,  was  doomed  ;  and  all  of  Monday  was 
passed  in  bell-ringing,  cannonading,  building 
bonfires,  and  drinking  toasts.  Hughes  was 
burned  in  effigy,  and,  for  a  time,  it  seemed 
likely  that  his  house  would  be  pulled  down. 
But  all  this  rejoicing  was  premature.  The 
new  ministers  were  as  determined  to  tax  Amer 
ica  as  the  old,  and  the  stamp  act  was  not  re 
pealed.  Then  came  the  associations  of  mer 
chants  and  tradesmen  pledged  to  encourage 
the  growth  of  wool,  to  eat  no  lamb,  to  wear 
homespun,  to  import  no  goods  of  English  make, 
and  to  have  no  dealings  with  any  man  who  did. 
Hughes  was  remonstrated  with,  threatened, 
urged  to  follow  the  example  of  the  stamp 
agents  in  other  colonies  and  resign.  But  he 
would  not,  and  was  expelled  from  the  Hand- 
in-hand  fire  company,  and  denounced  as  the 
enemy  of  America.  So  high  did  the  feeling 
against  him  run,  that,  in  September,  Galloway 
wrote  to  Franklin  that  "  eight  hundred  of  the 

as  I  am  sure  it  will  soon  recover  any  present  loss,  and  may  be 
carried  on  to  advantage  if  you  steadily  proceed  as  I  proposed 
in  former  letters." 


194  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

sober  inhabitants  assembled  quietly  at  the  in 
stance  of  Mr.  Hughes'  friends,  and  were  posted 
in  several  parts  of  the  city  ready  to  prevent  any 
mischief  should  that  be  attempted  by  the  mob." 
Nor  did  Franklin  escape.  Seeing  their  oppor 
tunity,  in  the  excitement  of  the  moment  the 
leaders  of  the  Dickinson  party  assured  the 
people  that  Franklin  was  worse  than  Hughes. 
John  Hughes  was  the  open  and  avowed  enemy 
of  his  country  :  but  Franklin  was  an  enemy 
disguised  as  a  friend.  With  a  commission  as 
agent  of  Pennsylvania  in  his  pocket,  he  had 
done  his  best  to  have  the  stamp  act  passed,  and 
he  had  done  so  lest  he  should  lose  his  place 
in  the  post-office.  The  people  believed  these 
charges,  and,  as  Franklin  was  beyond  their 
reach,  made  threats  against  his  property  and 
his  wife.  Mrs.  Franklin  wrote  her  husband 
that  for  nine  days  she  had  been  beset  by  people 
to  quit  her  home,  and  hurry  with  her  daughter 
to  Burlington  ;  that  "  Cousin  Davenport "  had 
come  with  his  gun  to  defend  her  ;  that  she  had 
sent  for  her  brother  :  and  that,  while  the  men 
turned  a  room  downstairs  into  a  magazine,  she 
ordered  such  defense  to  be  made  upstairs  as  a 
woman  could  manage.  She  was  not  molested, 
and  the  proprietary  party  was  content  with  vili 
fying  Franklin  in  pamphlets  and  coarse  prints. 
One  caricature  shows  him  with  the  Devil  whis- 


FEELING  AGAINST  FfiANKLIN.  195 

pering  in  his  ear.  From  the  mouth  of  Satan 
come  the  words,  "  Thee  shall  be  agent,  Ben,  for 
all  my  dominions  ; "  while  beneath  the  figures 
are  the  lines :  — 

"  All  his  designs  concenter  in  himself, 
For  building  castles  and  amassing  pelf. 
The  public  't  is  his  wit  to  sell  for  gain, 
Whom  private  property  did  ne'er  maintain." 


From  James  Biddle  came  an  address  to  the 
electors  and  freeholders  of  the  Province  of 
Pennsylvania,  denouncing  Franklin  and  calling 
on  the  voters  not  to  send  to  the  assembly  men 
who  would  help  him  at  London. 

Hughes  wrote  his  old  friend  that  a  spirit  of 
rebellion  was  all  aflame ;  that  a  strange  frenzy 
had  seized  the  people;  that  not  a  day  went 
over  his  head  but  he  was  called  on  to  resign, 
and  told  to  his  face  that  he  was  an  enemy  of 
North  America.  Yet  he  could  not  resign  under 
a  threat.  The  people  must  do  some  act  of  vio 
lence.  And  when  violence  was  once  afloat  he 
might  himself  fall  a  victim.  This  seemed  un 
likely,  however,  for  Cox,  stamp  collector  for 
New  Jersey,  having  resigned,  Hughes  in  the 
same  letter  begs  to  have  his  son  Hugh  put  in 
Cox's  place. 

The  day  on  which  the  stamp  act  was  to  go 
into  force  was  November  1,  1765  ;  but  it  was 
not  till  October  that  the  stamped  paper  began 


196  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

to  arrive  at  Philadelphia.  On  Saturday,  the 
fifth  of  that  month,  the  ship  Royal  Charlotte, 
bearing  the  paper  for  New  Jersey,  Pennsyl 
vania,  and  Maryland,  was  seen  coming  round 
Gloucester  Point.  Instantly  every  American 
ship  at  the  port  ran  up  a  flag  to  half-mast ; 
the  bells  were  muffled  and  tolled,  and  a  new 
demand  was  made  on  Hughes  to  resign.  He 
did  finally  give  something  which  was  construed 
to  be  a  written  promise  not  to  serve.  As  the 
1st  of  November  approached,  the  newspapers 
were  black  with  inverted  column  rules,  coffins, 
death's  -  heads,  and  obituary  notices.  The 
"  Pennsylvania  Journal,"  a  weekly  paper,  sus 
pended  one  issue  l  and  then  went  on  regularly 
as  before.  The  "  Gazette,"  still  owned  by 
Franklin  &  Hall,  did  not  suspend.  On  Novem 
ber  7,  the  day  for  the  first  issue  of  the  "  Ga 
zette  "  after  the  stamp  act  became  law,  a  half 
sheet  was  published,  printed  on  one  side,  with 
out  any  heading,  and  in  its  place  the  words 
,"  No  Stamp  Paper  to  be  had."  The  paper  for 
the  next  week  was  likewise  without  the  custom 
ary  heading  and  was  called  "  Remarkable  Oc 
currences."  Thenceforth  the  old  name  was  used. 
So  determined  were  the  people  not  to  pay  the 
hateful  tax  that  legal  documents  of  every  kind 
ceased  to  be  drawn,  and  the  public  offices  were 

i  No.  1196.    November  7,  1765. 


EFFECT  OF   THE  STAMP  ACT.  197 

closed  from  November,  1765,  till  May,  1766. 
During  these  six  months,  every  scrap  of  stamped 
paper  that  was  heard  of  was  hunted  up,  carried 
to  the  coffee-house,  and  burned.  Now  it  was 
a  Barbadoes  newspaper  brought  to  Philadel 
phia  by  the  captain  of  some  ship,  now  a  bill  of 
lading,  now  a  Mediterranean  pass.  Women  of 
fashion  had  long  abandoned  spinning  and  knit 
ting  to  their  house-maids.  But  they  were  now 
taken  up  and  once  again  became  the  mode. 
To  be  clothed  in  fabrics  of  colonial  make  was 
a  mark  of  patriotism,  and  the  demand  for  such 
fabrics  became  so  great  that  one  man  opened 
a  market  for  home-manufactured  goods,  while 
another  set  up  in  his  house  a  number  of  looms 
and  made  thread  and  cotton  stockings.  It 
would  have  been  the  ruination  of  any  butcher  to 
have  displayed  on  his  stall  the  carcass  of  a  lamb. 
The  effect  of  this  conduct  was  speedy.  Not 
a  merchant,  not  a  manufacturer  in  the  mother 
country,  engaged  in  the  colonial  trade,  but 
found  his  American  orders  canceled  and  his 
goods  left  on  his  hands.  Scarce  a  ship  returned 
from  Boston  or  Philadelphia  without  English 
wares  for  which  there  was  no  sale.  Then  came 
up  from  Bristol,  from  Liverpool,  from  Manches 
ter,  a  cry  of  distress  so  piercing  that  parliament 
was  forced  to  hear  it.  Parliament  met  in  De 
cember,  1765,  and  for  six  weeks  merchants, 


198  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

manufacturers,  traders,  ship-captains,  officers  of 
the  revenue,  of  the  army,  men  who  had  lived  in 
America  or  were  connected  with  America  by 
interest  or  by  commerce,  were  called  before  the 
commons  to  give  testimony  at  the  bar  of  the 
committee  of  the  whole  house.  With  them 
went  Franklin,  whose  examination  on  the  2d  of 
February  has  become  historic.  Twenty  days 
later  the  repeal  of  the  Stamp  Act  was  carried, 
as  Walpole  declares  Lord  Rockingham  boasted, 
against  king,  queen,  princess  dowager,  Duke  of 
York,  Lord  Bute,  the  Tories,  the  Scotch,  and 
the  opposition. 

The  part  Franklin  bore  in  promoting  the 
repeal  did  but  little  towards  restoring  him  to 
favor.  Carried  away  by  joy,  his  townsmen  did 
indeed  drink  a  toast,  on  the  king's  birthday,  to 
"  our  worthy  and  faithful  agent,  Dr.  Franklin." 
They  did  indeed  sing  a  song  of  which  a  stanza 
was  devoted  to  his  praise,  and  call  a  barge 
which  graced  the  procession  by  his  name.  But 
when  the  October  election  came  round,  he  was 
lampooned  more  savagely  than  ever.  "  A  tame 
sort  of  opposition  his  was  surety,""  exclaimed 
one  writer,  "  being  made,  no  doubt,  in  the  fol 
lowing  strain :  '  My  Lords,  it  does  not  become 
me  who  hold  an  office  by  your  indulgence  to 
present  any  remonstrance  that  may  be  offen 
sive  to  you.  My  constituents  have  intrusted 


ABUSE  OF  FRANKLIN.  199 

such  a  remonstrance  with  me  against  the  Stamp 
Act.  But  after  all  you  will  do  what  you  please, 
and  if  it  is  to  be  passed,  I  have  a  friend,  one 
John  Hughes,  who  is  a  bold  man,  and  now 
fighting  my  battles.  He  will  be  the  fittest  per 
son  to  execute  this  law,  however  disagreeable  to 
the  people.'  This  is  the  plain  English  of  all  the 
opposition  which  it  has  been  ever  pretended  Mr. 
Franklin  made  to  the  Stamp  Act."  "  Think," 
exclaimed  the  writer  of  another  address  to  the 
voters,  "let  me  entreat  you  to  think  what 
opinions  our  sister  colonies  must  form  of  that 
man  and  this  province  should  she  embrace,  with 
the  most  ardent  affection,  a  native  of  America 
who  has  aimed  a  poisoned  dagger  at  the  breast 
of  his  parent  country.  Must  not  all  British 
America  be  convinced  that  the  stamp  act  was 
agreeable  to  us,  when  they  see  us  advance  to  a 
post  of  the  most  important  trust  that  very  man 
who  has  most  distinguished  himself  by  pleading 
for  it?  Defend  it  from  the  charge  of  employing 
and  honoring  an  instrument  whose  name  is  now 
flying  on  the  wings  of  contempt,  detestation, 
and  abhorrence  from  one  end  of  the  continent 
to  the  other."  The  "  Pennsylvania  Journal  " 
declared  he  was  chiefly  responsible  for  the 
stamp  act.  He  had  mentioned  it  to  Braddock 
in  1755.  He  had  proposed  it  to  Lord  Bute  in 
1759,  and  had  seen  it  planned  before  leaving 


200  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

England    in    1761.      His    purpose   in    coming 
home  was  to  foment  dispute  with  the  governor, 
raise  a  cry  for  a  change  of  government,  and  be 
sent  back  to  finish  his  plan.     His  plan  was  to 
have  Pennsylvania   made  a  royal  colony   and 
himself  made  royal  governor.    But  the  office  of 
governor  was  to  be  his  reward  for  planning  and 
sustaining  the  stamp  act.    When,  therefore,  the 
act  passed,  in  order  to  have  it  faithfully  ex 
ecuted  he  named  John  Hughes  distributer  for 
Pennsylvania  and  Delaware.    While,  therefore, 
other  colonial  agents  who  were  not  to  get  favor 
from  the  king  were  waiting  on  the  ministers, 
exciting  the  London  merchants,  and  contriving 
to  have  petitions  for  repeal  sent  up  from  all 
the  manufacturing  towns,  Franklin  remained  a 
quiet   spectator.      When,    therefore,  the   com 
mittee  of  Bristol  merchants  visited  him  with 
their  petition  in  their  hand,  he  was  so  reserved 
and    uncivil    that    they   left    him   in    disgust. 
While  the  pens  of  other  men  were   busy  de 
nouncing    the    stamp    act    and   defending   the 
American  cause,  he  had  not  written  one  line. 

That  Franklin  had  done  nothing  for  the  good 
of  the  cause  was  false.  That  he  had  written 
nothing  was  almost  true,  for  he  had  sent  to  the 
press  but  one  short  article.  During  the  early 
months  of  1765  the  London  press  had  displayed 
its  usual  ignorance  of  colonial  affairs,  and  had 


ENGLISH  IGNORANCE    OF  AMERICA.       201 

been  full  of  all  manner  of  contradictory  state 
ments.  At  one  moment  it  was  said  that  the 
Americans  were  about  to  establish  manufac 
tories  and  ruin  the  mother  country  ;  and  at  the 
next,  that  there  was  nothing  that  the  Amer 
icans  could  manufacture.  Their  sheep  were 
first  described  as  the  finest  in  the  world;  and 
then  as  few  and  the  poorest  in  the  world. 
When  a  few  dozens  of  such  statements  had  ap 
peared  in  print,  some  friend  to  America  ven 
tured  to  call  their  makers  to  account,  and  was 
himself  reproved  by  Franklin  in  a  short  piece 
which  amused  the  coffee-houses  for  a  month. 
Readers  who  pretended  to  know,  he  wrote,  ob 
jected,  that  setting  up  manufactories  by  the 
Americans  was  not  only  improbable  but  impos 
sible;  that  labor  was  so  dear  that  iron  could  not 
be  worked  with  profit;  that  wool  was  so  scarce 
that  enough  could  not  be  had  to  make  each  in 
habitant  one  pair  of  stockings  a  year.  But  no 
one  surely  would  be  deceived  by  such  ground 
less  objections.  Did  not  every  one  know  that 
the  very  tails  of  American  sheep  were  so  laden 
with  wool  that  each  had  a  little  wagon  on  four 
little  wheels  to  support  and  keep  it  from  drag 
ging  on  the  ground?  Would  the  Americans 
calk  their  ships  and  litter  their  horses  with 
wool  if  it  were  not  plenty  and  cheap  ?  Could 
labor  be  dear  where  one  English  shilling  passed 


202  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

for  twenty  -  five  ?  Some  incredulous  people 
might  declare  the  story  of  three  hundred  silk 
throwsters  being  engaged  at  London,  in  one 
week,  to  go  to  New  York  was  a  fable,  and  pro 
test  there  was  no  silk  in  America  to  throw. 
But  let  them  know  that  agents  from  the  Em 
peror  of  China  had  been  at  Boston  treating 
about  the  exchange  of  raw  silk  for  wool  to  be 
carried  in  Chinese  junks  through  the  Straits  of 
Magellan.  This  was  certainly  as  true  as  the 
news  from  Quebec  that  the  inhabitants  of  Can 
ada  were  making  ready  for  a  cod  and  whale 
fishery  in  the  Upper  Lakes.  Here  again  igno 
rant  people  might  object  that  the  Upper  Lakes 
were  bodies  of  fresh  water,  and  that  cod  and 
whale  were  fish  never  caught  but  in  water  that 
was  salt.  But  let  these  people  know  that  cod, 
when  attacked,  fly  into  any  water  where  they 
can  be  safest ;  that  whales  when  they  have  a 
mind  to  eat  cod,  follow  them  wherever  they 
fly ;  and  that  the  grand  leap  of  the  whale  in 
the  chase  up  the  falls  of  Niagara  is  esteemed, 
by  all  who  have  seen  it,  as  one  of  the  finest 
spectacles  in  nature. 

This  manner  of  treating  grave  matters  in  a 
humorous  way  is  characteristic  of  Franklin's 
best  writings  ;  and  he  never  overwhelmed  his 
adversaries  so  completely  as  when  he  met  their 
ignorance,  stupidity,  and  folly  with  his  good- 


THE  "RULES"   AND   THE   "EDICT."         203 

natured  wit.  Two  contributions  to  the  news 
papers  in  1773  are  cases  in  point.  The  crisis 
in  the  quarrel  with  Great  Britain  had  then 
been  reached.  The  long  list  of  infamous  acts 
summed  up  in  the  Declaration  of  Independence 
had  almost  been  completed.  The  Townshend 
revenue  act  had  been  laid  and  in  part  re 
pealed  ;  Gage  had  taken  possession  of  Boston ; 
the  "  Liberty  "  had  been  seized  ;  the  "  Gaspe*e  " 
had  been  burned ;  citizens  of  Boston  had  been 
shot  down  in  the  streets  ;  legislatures  had  been 
summoned  to  meet  at  places  unusual,  uncom 
fortable,  far  from  the  depositories  of  public  rec 
ords ;  and  the  tea  flung  into  Boston  harbor. 
Enraged  at  the  just  resistance  of  the  colonies, 
the  whole  Tory  press  of  England  put  up  a 
shout  for  vengeance.  The  Americans  seemed 
to  have  scarcely  a  friend  left,  when  two  short 
pieces  in  defense  of  them  were  printed  in  the 
"  Public  Advertiser."  These  pieces,  as  Franklin 
declared,  were  designed  to  set  forth  the  con 
duct  of  England  "  towards  the  colonies  in  a 
short,  comprehensive,  and  striking  view,"  and 
to  make  the  view  more  striking  were  given  un 
common  titles  and  drawn  up  in  unusual  forms. 
To  one  he  gave  the  name  "  Rules  for  reducing 
a  great  empire  to  a  small  one."  The  other 
he  called  "  An  Edict  of  the  King  of  Prussia." 
The  Rules  were  twenty  in  number,  were  ad- 


204  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

dressed  to  all  ministers  charged  with  the  man 
agement  of  domains  so  extensive  as  to  be 
troublesome  to  govern,  and  prescribed,  as  the 
best  way  of  reducing  such  empires,  precisely 
the  line  of  conduct  Great  Britain  had  taken 
with  America. 

In  the  Edict  the  King  of  Prussia  was  made 
to  assume  the  same  attitude  towards  Great 
Britain  that  George  III.  had  assumed  toward 
America.  All  the  world  knew,  the  Edict 
stated,  that  the  island  of  Britain  was  a  colony 
of  Prussia ;  that  the  first  settlements  had  been 
made  by  men  drawn  out  from  Germany  by 
Hengist  and  Horsa,  Hella  and  Uffa,  Cerdicus 
and  Ida;  that  the  colony  had  flourished  for 
ages  under  Prussian  protection,  had  been  de 
fended  by  Prussia  in  the  late  war  with  France, 
and  had  never  been  emancipated  from  Prussian 
control.  As  descendants  of  the  ancient  Germans, 
they  were  still  subjects  of  the  Prussian  crown, 
and,  as  dutiful  subjects,  were  bound  to  help  re 
plenish  the  coffers  exhausted  in  their  defense. 
On  them,  therefore,  were  laid  every  tax,  every 
duty,  every  commercial  restriction,  every  man 
ufacturing  hindrance  imposed  by  Great  Britain 
on  her  colonies.  Englishmen  were  forbidden 
to  dig  iron,  to  make  steel,  to  put  up  rolling- 
mills,  to  raise  wool  unless  for  manure,  to  make 
a  hat,  or  to  complain  when,  for  the  better 


WRITINGS  FROM  1765-1773.  205 

peopling  or  the  country,  thieves,  highwaymen, 
forgers,  and  murderers,  men  of  every  sort  who 
had  forfeited  their  lives  in  Prussia,  were  taken 
from  the  jails  and  sent  to  Great  Britain. 

The  success  of  the  two  pieces  was  immense. 
The  number  of  the  "  Advertiser  "  containing  the 
Edict  went  off  so  quickly  that  not  a  copy  of  it. 
could  be  had  the  next  day  in  London.  The 
Rules  were  copied  by  the  "  Gentlemen's  Maga 
zine,"  by  almost  every  London  newspaper,  and 
finally,  some  weeks  later,  were  reprinted  in  the 
"  Public  Advertiser  "  "  in  compliance  with  the 
earnest  request  of  many  private  persons  and 
some  respectable  societies." 

With  these  exceptions  Franklin  wrote  noth 
ing  from  1765  to  1773  that  is  worthy  of  more 
than  notice.  Under  the  signatures  F.  B.,  F-f- 
S,  and  N.  W. ;  Pacificus,  Homespun,  Benevo- 
lus,  Daylight,  Twilight,  New  Englander,  A 
Friend  to  Both  Countries,  and  Frances  Lyn,  he 
published  twenty-three  short  pieces  on  Amer 
ican  affairs  in  the  London  newspapers.  He 
wrote  a  preface  to  the  London  edition  of  the 
"  Farmer's  Letters,"  and  an  answer  to  the  "  Re 
port  of  the  Lords  Committee  of  Trade  and 
Plantations  on  the  Walpole  Grant " ;  repub- 
lished  "  The  Votes  and  Proceedings,  on  No 
vember  20,  1772,  of  the  freeholders  and  other 
inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Boston"  with  a 


206  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

short  preface,  and,  under  the  signature  of  A 
Friend  to  the  Poor,  showed  the  folly  of  a  pro 
posed  act  of  parliament  for  preventing  emigra 
tion  to  America. 

In  1767,  Franklin  in  company  with  his 
"  steady  good  friend  Sir  John  Pringle  "  set  out 
for  France.  They  left  London  in  August,  rode 
post  to  Dover,  and  there  began  that  journey  so 
pleasantly  described  in  the  letter  to  Miss  Ste 
venson.  The  French  minister  Durand  had 
given  to  Franklin  a  bundle  of  letters  to  "  the 
Lord  knows  who."  But  he  needed  them  not, 
for  his  fame  had  long  preceded  him,  and  men  of 
all  pursuits  made  haste  to  bid  him  welcome.  To 
him  came  first  D'Alibard,  who  had  repeated 
his  experiments  before  the  king;  and  then  the 
members  of  the  little  sect  of  "  Economists." 

The  Economists  professed  a  deep  love  of 
rural  economy  and  agriculture,  and  met  every 
Tuesday  in  a  fine  salon  in  the  house  of  the 
Marquise  de  Mirabeau.  There,  after  an  ex 
cellent  dinner,  they  would  laud  the  happiness 
of  a  farmer's  life,  and,  in  imagination,  chop 
down  whole  forests,  drain  great  bogs,  and  turn 
every  barren  waste  of  France  into  a  blooming 
garden. 

Franklin  seems  to  have  known  them  all. 
But  with  two,  M.  Dupont  de  Nemours  and 
M.  Jacques  Barbeu-Dubourg,  he  formed  a 


ENGLISH  EDITION  OF  HIS    WRITINGS.      207 

life-long  friendship.  Of  Dubourg  be  was  espe 
cially  fond,  and  when  he  again  visited  France 
for  a  few  weeks,  in  1769,  persuaded  the  French 
man  to  take  charge  of  the  translation  and  pub 
lication  of  his  works. 

Though  his  letters  and  essays  were  well 
known  and  generally  read,  they  were  never,  till 
1769,  gathered  into  the  form  of  a  book.  But 
in  that  year  a  one-volume  quarto  edition  of 
what  were  called  his  Works  was  issued  at  Lon 
don,  and  quickly  went  through  four  small  edi 
tions.  It  was  this  collection  that  Dubourg  con 
sented  to  translate.  To  a  general  reader  the 
contents  must  have  been  of  little  interest,  for 
the  "  Way  to  Wealth  "  was  not  there,  nor  the 
"  Advice  to  a  Young  Tradesman,"  nor  any  of 
the  moral  and  political  essays  that  won  him 
such  fame  at  home.  The  whole  collection  was 
made  up  of  letters  on  electricity,  physics,  and 
science  in  general.  The  labor  of  translation 
was  given  to  M.  Lesquis  ;  but  the  labor  of 
correcting  and  revising  was  left  with  Dubourg. 
The  language  of  Franklin  was  the  plainest 
English,  and  seems,  at  times,  to  have  sorely 
puzzled  translator  and  editor  alike.  Now  they 
cannot  find  a  term  for  "  orreries,"  and  Dubourg 
in  a  letter  to  Franklin  begs  to  know  if  it  may 
be  rendered  "  cadrans ; "  now  he  does  not 
know  what  "jostled"  means;  again  he  is  at 


208  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

a  loss  for  terms  to  express  the  meanings  of 
"surf"  and  "  spray."  But  at  last  all  diffi 
culty  was  overcome,  and  •'  CEuvres  de  M.  Frank 
lin,  Docteur  es  loix,  traduites  de  Tanglois  sur 
la  quatrieme  edition.  Par  M.  Barbeu-Dubourg, 
avec  des  additions  nouvelles  et  des  figures  en 
taille  douce,"  came  out  at  Paris  in  1773. 

To  the  contents  of  the  London  edition  Du- 
bourg  added  some  letters  written  between  1769 
and  1773,  and  the  "Way  to  Wealth,"  under 
the  title  "  Le  Moyen  de  s'Enricher,  Enseigne* 
clairement  dans  la  Preface  d'un  Vieil  Alma- 
nach  de  Pennsylvania,  intitule*  Le  Pauvre 
Henri  a  son  aise." 

While  liis  friends  at  Paris  were  reading  the 
letters  translated  by  Dubourg,  his  countrymen 
in  America  were  reading  with  far  greater  in 
terest  another  collection  of  letters  for  which 
they  were  also  indebted  to  Franklin. 

One  day  towards  the  close  of  1772,  Franklin 
was  lamenting  to  a  member  of  parliament  the 
harsh  treatment  of  Boston.  The  quartering  of 
the  troops  especially  excited  him.  The  measure 
he  thought  would  only  make  matters  worse. 
In  America  the  people  would  think  it  the  act 
of  the  English  nation,  while  it  was  merely  a 
ministerial  expedient.  Tumults  would  follow, 
and  the  English  people,  misled  by  what  the 
newspapers  stated,  would  declare  the  Ameri- 


HUTCHINSON  LETTERS.  209 

cans  factious  and  disloyal.  The  member  of 
parliament  assured  him  that  he  was  mistaken  ; 
that  quartering  troops  on  the  citizens  of  Bos 
ton  had  not  been  suggested  by  the  ministry, 
nor  by  any  man  in  England  ;  that  it  was,  in 
truth,  the  work  of  the  Bostonians  themselves ; 
promised  to  make  good  the  statements,  and  in  a 
few  days  left  a  bundle  of  letters  in  Franklin's 
hands.  The  addresses  had  been  carefully  re 
moved,  but  the  signatures  were  there,  and  he 
was  assured  they  had  been  written  to  William 
Whately,  then  dead.  In  life,  Whately  had  been 
a  member  of  parliament,  secretary  to  the  lords 
of  the  treasury,  under-secretary  of  state,  direc 
tor  of  the  royal  progress,  a  creature  of  George 
Grenville,  and  a  receptacle  into  which  was 
poured  all  sort  of  information  that  could  not 
well  be  sent  direct  to  his  master.  It  was  in 
this  capacity  that  Whately  received  the  thir 
teen  letters  brought  to  Franklin.  Six  were 
from  Thomas  Hutchinson,  a  native  of  Massa 
chusetts,  once  lieutenant-governor  and  then  gov 
ernor  of  the  province.  Four  were  from  Andrew 
Oliver,  likewise  a  native  and  lieutenant-gov 
ernor  of  Massachusetts.  The  others  were  from. 
Robert  Auchmuty,  Charles  Paxton,  and  Na 
thaniel  Rogers,  men  of  small  note. 

Hutchinson  and  Oliver  narrated  the  events  at 
Boston  from  June  to  December,  1768,  described 


210  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

the  people  as  factious  and  wicked,  recommended 
that  the  liberties  of  the  province  be  greatly 
lessened,  that  the  governor  be  made  indepen 
dent  of  the  assembly,  that  a  provincial  aristoc 
racy  be  set  up,  and  that  the  officers  who  served 
the  crown  be  "effectually  supported.'' 

Franklin  asked  leave  to  copy  the  letters. 
This  was  refused  ;  but  leave  was  given  to  send 
them  to  America,  and  they  were  soon  on  the 
way  to  Thomas  Gushing,  chairman  of  the  com 
mittee  of  correspondence  of  the  Massachusetts 
assembly.  Gushing  was  charged  not  to  have 
them  copied  or  put  in  print,  but  to  keep  them 
a  few  months,  show  them  to  whom  he  pleased, 
and  send  them  back  to  England.  By  him  they 
were  shown  to  the  foremost  men  of  Boston; 
and  given  to  John  Adams,  who  carried  them  on 
his  circuit  and  showed  them  to  the  chief  men 
of  Massachusetts.  When  the  general  court  met 
they  were  read,  with  closed  doors,  to  an  amazed 
assembly.  The  assembly  petitioned  the  king 
to  remove  both  Hutchinson  and  Oliver,  and  the 
letters  at  once  appeared  in  print.  Copies  of 
the  pamphlet  went  over  to  England,  where  the 
letters  were  published  in  the  London  journals, 
to  the  astonishment  of  the  Tory  party.  How 
the  Americans  got  them  no  one  knew.  The 
public  suspected  Thomas  Whately,  who  owned 
the  papers  his  brother  left.  Whately  suspected 


HUTCHINSON  LETTERS.  211 

John  Temple,  once  lieutenant-governor  of  New 
Hampshire,  who  had  by  permission  taken  from 
the  papers  of  William  Whately  letters  of  his 
own.  A  duel  followed,  in  which  Ralph  Izard 
and  Arthur  Lee  acted  somewhat  as  seconds. 
Whately  was  wounded.  The  duel  became  the 
talk  of  the  town ;  and  a  second  meeting  was 
threatened,  when  Franklin,  to  prevent  further 
mischief,  explained.  Through  the  "  Public 
Advertiser"  of  Christmas  Day,  1773,  he  as 
sured  the  public  that  the  letters  had  never  at 
any  time  been  in  the  hands  of  Mr.  Whately, 
that  they  could  not  therefore  have  been  taken 
from  him  by  Mr.  Temple,  and  that  neither  of 
them  was  in  any  way  concerned  in  sending  the 
letters  to  America,  as  he  alone  obtained  and  sent 
them  to  Boston.  This  he  was  justified  in  doing 
because  they  were  not  private  letters  between 
friends,  but  were  written  on  public  matters  by 
public  men  holding  public  offices,  were  intended 
to  bring  about  public  measures,  and  had  been 
handed  about  among  other  public  men  to  lead 
them  to  favor  such  measures.  Their  purpose 
was  to  enrage  the  mother  country  against  her 
colonies,  to  widen  the  breach  already  existing, 
and  this  they  had  done. 

The  ministry  saw  in  this  confession  a  fine 
opportunity  and  made  haste  to  use  it.  Thomas 
Whately  was  a  government  banker,  and  made 


212  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

some  money  by  paying  pensions  for  the  crown. 
He  was  now  forced  to  bring  suit  against  Frank 
lin  for  the  recovery  of  the  profits  said  to  have 
been  made  by  the  sale  of  his  brother's  letters. 
The  petition  for  the  removal  of  Hutchinson  and 
Oliver  had  long  been  lying,  forgotten,  in  the 
archives  of  the  Lords  of  Trade.  This  was  at 
once  taken  up,  and  Franklin  was  soon  before 
the  privy  council  to  answer  with  regard  to  the 
same.  It  was  then  the  usage  for  the  council 
to  meet  in  one  of  the  rooms  of  a  building  which 
passed  by  the  name  of  the  Cockpit.  Around 
the  fire,  and  down  the  sides  of  the  long  table, 
had  often  been  gathered  many  famous  men. 
But  it  may  well  be  doubted  whether  the  room 
had  ever  held  a  company  quite  so  distinguished 
as  that  assembled  to  hear  the  agent  of  the 
colony  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay  insulted, 
browbeaten,  maligned,  and  defamed.  In  that 
room  had  been  done  many  acts  shameful  alike 
to  the  English  government  and  to  Englishmen. 
But  none  went  down  to  such  a  depth  of  infamy 
as  that  perpetrated  on  that  day  on  our  illus 
trious  countryman. 

An  idle  story  is  still  passing  current  that 
Franklin  in  time  had  his  revenge,  and  that, 
when  about  to  sign  the  treaty  of  peace  in  1783, 
he  quit  the  room  to  put  on  the  very  suit  he 
wore  when  Wedderburn  abused  him  before  the 


FRANKLIN  DENOUNCED  IN  ENGLAND.     213 

privy  council.  The  story  is  untrue  and  was 
disproved,  long  before  Franklin  died,  by  the 
published  statements  of  one  of  the  secretaries 
present  at  the  signing. 

The  petition  of  Massachusetts  was  declared 
to  be  scandalous  and  seditious  by  the  privy 
council,  and  was  not  granted.  Franklin  lost 
his  place  in  the  post-office,  and  wrote  in  de 
fense  of  his  behavior  a  pamphlet  called  "  An 
Account  of  the  Transactions  relating  to  Gov 
ernor  Hutchinson's  Letters."  And  now  par 
liament  passed  the  Boston  Port  Bill,  the  Mas 
sachusetts  Bill,  the  Transportation  Bill,  the 
Quebec  Act.  Then  came  the  first  continental 
congress,  and  the  revolution  opened  in  earnest. 
As  the  news  of  each  act  of  resistance  came 
over  to  London,  the  position  of  Franklin  grew 
daily  more  dangerous  and  unpleasant.  The 
whole  Tory  press  set  upon  him.  He  ought  to 
be  put  under  arrest.  He  was  the  fomenter  of 
all  the  colonial  troubles.  He  was  an  arch- 
traitor,  an  ungrateful  wretch.  Was  ever  an 
unworthy  subject,  it  was  asked,  so  loaded  with 
benefits  by  a  gracious  king  ?  Had  he  not  been 
made  a  postmaster-general?  Had  not  his  son 
been  made  a  governor?  Had  he  not  been  of 
fered  a  rich  place  in  the  salt-office  for  himself  ? 
And  what  return  did  he  make?  With  the 
royal  commission  in  his  pocket  he  had  incited 


214  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

his  country  to  rebellion  and  bloodshed.  Johnson 
called  him  the  master  of  mischief,  who  taught 
congress  "  to  put  in  motion  the  engine  of  elec 
tricity,  and  give  the  great  stroke  by  the  name 
of  Boston."  At  home  the  Tory  governor  sought 
to  deprive  him  of  his  pay  as  agent.  The  press 
told  the  people  that  he  had  sold  his  country  for 
places,  and  they  believed  it.  For  a  time  his 
work  seemed  ended.  He  shunned  the  court, 
went  no  longer  to  the  levees  of  the  ministers, 
and  kept  away  from  the  office  of  Lord  Dart 
mouth.  Indeed,  he  was  about  to  come  home, 
when  news  that  congress  was  to  meet  detained 
him.  While  he  tarried  he  wrote  a  few  more 
essays  for  the  "  Public  Advertiser,"  helped  Ar 
thur  Lee  in  the  preparation  of  his  "  True  state 
of  the  proceedings  in  the  parliament  of  Great 
Britain  and  in  the  province  of  Massachusetts 
Bay,  relative  to  the  giving  and  grunting  the 
money  of  the  people  of  that  province  and  of  all 
America,  in  the  house  of  commons  in  which 
they  are  not  represented,"  and  delivered  to 
Lord  Dartmouth  the  famous  Declaration  of 
Rights.  This  done,  he  set  sail  on  the  21st  of 
March,  1775,  for  Philadelphia ;  landed  on  the 
5th  of  May,  heard  with  amazement  of  the  fight 
at  Concord  and  Lexington,  and  was  the  next 
day  welcomed  home  in  an  ode. 

He  had  been  abroad  ten  years  and  six  months, 


DEATH    OF  MRS.  FRANKLIN.  215 

and,  as  he  looked  about  him,  he  could  not  but 
notice  the  many  and  great  changes  that  had 
taken  place.  Old  friends  were  gone.  New 
faces  met  him  on  every  street.  The  growth  of 
the  city,  the  spirit,  the  prosperity  of  the  people, 
amazed  him.  But  the  greatest  of  all  changes 
was  in  his  own  family  and  in  his  own  home. 
The  house  to  which  he  came  and  which  he  called 
his  home,  though  built  nine  years,  he  had  never 
seen.  Politics  were  fast  estranging  his  son. 
His  daughter  was  married.  His  wife  was  dead. 
Her  maiden  name  was  Deborah  Read.  The 
story  of  her  life  is  well  known  to  every  one  who 
has  read  the  Autobiography;  how  Franklin  first 
saw  her  on  the  memorable  Sunday  morning 
when  he  walked  the  streets  of  Philadelphia  in 
search  of  a  place  to  lay  his  head ;  how  he  courted 
her ;  how  he  deserted  her  ;  how  he  came  back 
from  his  first  trip  to  London  to  find  her  married 
to  another ;  how  her  husband  in  turn  deserted 
her;  how,  with  many  misgivings,  Franklin  then 
took  her  to  wife,  and  how  she  brought  home 
and  reared  bis  illegitimate  son.  By  her  Frank 
lin  had  two  children  :  a  son  who  died  in  infancy, 
and  a  daughter  who  married  Richard  Bache 
and  became  the  mother  of  Benjamin  Franklin 
Bache,  the  famous  editor  of  the  "  Aurora,"  the 
bitter  hater  of  Washington,  and,  under  Jeffer 
son,  the  founder  of  the  Democratic-Republican 


216  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

party.  This  daughter  he  found  presiding  over 
his  house  ;  but  his  stay  with  her  was  short.  The 
Continental  Congress  was  soon  to  meet,  and  he 
was  on  the  day  after  his  landing  chosen  a  mem 
ber  with  James  Wilson  and  Thomas  Willing. 

And  now  the  members  began  to  come  in  fast. 
On  the  9th  of  May  the  Charleston  packet 
brought  the  delegates  from  South  Carolina. 
May  10th,  every  citizen  that  could  procure  a 
horse  rode  out  to  welcome  the  delegates  from 
Delaware,  Maryland,  Virginia,  and  North  Car 
olina,  who  came  in  a  body.  May  llth,  the 
members  from  New  England,  New  York,  and 
New  Jersey  rode  into  town,  and  learned  that 
the  continental  congress  had  begun  its  famous 
session  the  day  before.  Of  that  glorious  con 
gress  Franklin  was  a  member  fourteen  months. 
During  that  time  he  was  made  Postmaster-Gen 
eral  of  the  United  States,  was  on  the  commit 
tees  to  frame  a  second  petition  to  the  king ;  to 
find  out  the  sources  of  saltpetre ;  to  negotiate 
with  the  Indians  ;  to  engrave  and  print  the 
continental  money  ;  to  consider  the  resolution 
of  Lord  North  ;  to  devise  a  plan  for  regulating 
commerce  ;  to  obtain  supplies  of  salt  and  lead ; 
to  establish  the  post-office  ;  and,  when  Wash 
ington  assumed  command,  to  draw  up  a  decla 
ration  to  be  issued  by  the  commander  of  the 
army.  For  work  of  this  kind  he  was  wholly 


^~ 

UNI 

FRANKLIN  SENT  Tfc%£to^^\h.  %$ 

unfit,  and  in  place  of  a  grave  and  dignified 
document,  he  produced  a  paper  that  began  with 
idle  charges  and  ended  with  a  jest.  Congress 
most  happily  never  saw  the  draft  and  soon  em 
ployed  him  in  a  better  way,  sent  him  first  on 
a  mission  to  Washington  at  Cambridge,  and 
then  on  a  mission  to  Arnold  at  Quebec  ;  named 
him,  after  the  disastrous  battle  on  Long  Island, 
one  of  three  congressmen  to  confer  with  Lord 
Howe ;  and  a  little  later  dispatched  him  to  join 
Arthur  Lee  and  Silas  Deane  in  France. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

1776-1790. 

THE  history  of  the  mission  of  Franklin  to 
the  court  of  France  begins  on  a  November 
morning,  1776,  when  a  stranger,  short,  lame, 
and  speaking  but  little  English,  made  his  ap 
pearance  at  Philadelphia.  He  put  up  at  one 
of  the  inns,  and  sent  off  a  message  to  the  con 
gress,  of  which  the  substance  was  that  he  had 
something  pressing  and  important  to  communi 
cate.  No  heed  was  given,  for  he  was  thought 
to  be  of  weak  mind.  But  he  persisted,  and 
wrote  again  and  again  so  earnestly,  that  Jef 
ferson,  Jay,  and  Franklin  were  appointed  to 
hear  what  he  had  to  say.  They  met  him  in 
one  of  the  rooms  in  the  Carpenters'  Hall,  and 
were  told  that  whatever  they  wanted,  arms, 
ammunition,  money,  ships,  would  gladly  be  sup 
plied  by  France.  When  the  committee  asked 
for  his  name  and  credentials,  the  stranger 
smiled,  drew  his  hand  across  his  throat,  said  he 
knew  how  to  take  care  of  his  head,  bowed  him 
self  out,  and  was  never  seen  again.  The  com- 


THE  FRENCH  MISSION.  219 

mittee,  nevertheless,  were  deeply  impressed  by 
what  they  heard,  and  had  no  trouble  in  persuad 
ing  congress  to  name  a  committee  to  correspond 
"  with  friends  in  Great  Britain,  Ireland,  and 
other  parts  of  the  world."  The  committee  were 
active,  and  letters  were  soon  on  their  way  to 
Professor  Dumas  at  the  Hague,  to  Arthur  Lee 
at  London,  and  to  Franklin's  old  friend  Du- 
bourg.  Thomas  Story  was  sent  to  London, 
Silas  Deane  was  dispatched  to  France,  and  M. 
Penet,  a  merchant  of  Nantes,  went  back  home 
with  a  contract  in  his  pocket  for  gunpowder, 
guns  and  supplies. 

The  months  now  dragged  slowly  on  with 
out  a  word  from  any  agent.  Winter  length 
ened  into  spring,  the  spring  gave  way  to  sum 
mer,  and  the  summer  was  spent  before  a  long 
letter  from  Dubourg  reached  Franklin.  So  full 
was  it  of  the  most  comfortable  assurances  of 
help  from  France  that  congress  lost  no  time 
in  choosing  Franklin,  Jefferson,  and  Deane 
to  make  a  treaty  with  that  power.  Jefferson 
would  not  serve,  and  in  an  evil  hour  Arthur 

e  was  chosen  in  his  stead. 

The  choice  was  made  on  the  26th  of  Sep 
tember.  One  month  later  to  a  day  Franklin 
boarded  the  Reprisal  and  sailed  for  France. 
The  passage  was  stormy  and  the  sea  covered 
with  English  cruisers.  More  than  once  the 


220  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

Reprisal  was  hotly  chased.  More  than  once 
Captain  Wickes  beat  to  quarters  and  made 
ready  to  fight.  But  he  reached  the  coast  of 
France  in  safety  early  in  December,  and  dropped 
anchor  in  Quiberon  Bay  not  far  from  the 
mouth  of  the  Loire.  There  he  was  kept  by 
contrary  winds  for  four  days,  when  Franklin, 
weary  with  waiting,  landed  at  Auray  and  went 
on  to  Nantes. 

At  Nantes  he  was  welcomed  with  every  man 
ifestation  of  delight,  and  he  stayed  there  eight 
days.  A  story  is  extant  that  when  Lord  Stor- 
mont,  the  English  minister,  heard  that  Frank 
lin  had  landed,  he  threatened  to  quit  France 
if  the  American  rebel  was  suffered  to  put  foot 
in  Paris ;  that  to  quiet  him  messengers  were 
actually  sent  to  Nantes  to  forbid  Franklin  com 
ing  to  the  capital ;  that  they  were  sent  by  one 
route  when  it  was  well  known  that  Franklin 
would  travel  by  another ;  and  that,  being  once 
at  Paris,  Vergennes  protested  that  the  laws  of 
nations  and  of  hospitality  would  not  allow  him 
to  send  the  old  man  away.  But  Franklin  had 
no  wish  to  embarrass  the  ministry,  and,  after  a 
few  days'  stay  at  Paris,  withdrew  quietly  to 
Passy,  where  he  ever  after  remained. 

His  arrival  at  Nantes,  a  lieutenant  of  police 
assured  Vergennes,  had  "  created  a  great  sensa 
tion."  But  his  reception  at  Nantes  was  cold 


HIS  RECEPTION  AT  PARIS.  221 

and  tame  compared  with  that  which  awaited 
him  at  Paris.  Princes  and  nobles,  statesmen 
and  warriors,  women  of  rank,  men  of  fashion, 
philosophers,  doctors,  men  of  all  sorts,  welcomed 
him  with  a  welcome  such  as  had  never  yet 
fallen  to  the  lot  of  man.  To  his  house  came 
Turgot,  now  free  from  the  cares  of  state,  and 
Vergennes,  who  still  kept  his  portfolio  ;  Buffon, 
first  among  naturalists,  and  Cabanis,  first  among 
physicians ;  D'Alembert  and  La  Rochefoucauld, 
Raynal,  Morellet,  Mably  and  Malesherbes,  for 
the  fame  of  Franklin  was  great  in  France. 
Philosophers  ranked  him  with  Newton  and 
Leibnitz.  Diplomatists  studied  his  answers  in 
the  examination  before  the  commons  of  Eng 
land.  The  people  knew  him  as  Bonhomme 
Richard.  Men  of  letters  pronounced  "  The 
Way  to  Wealth  "  "  uii  tr£s-petit  livre  pour  des 
grandes  choses,"  and,  translated  and  annotated, 
it  was  used  in  the  schools.  Limners  spent  their 
ingenuity  in  portraying  his  features.  His 
face  was  to  be  seen  on  rings,  on  bracelets,  on 
the  covers  of  snuff-boxes,  on  the  prints  that 
hung  in  the  shop- windows.  His  bust  was  set 
up  in  the  royal  library.  Medallions  of  him 
appeared  at  Versailles.  If  he  made  a  jest,  or 
said  a  good  thing,  the  whole  of  France  knew  it. 
To  one  who  asked  him  if  a  statement  of  Lord 
Stormont  the  English  ambassador  was  true,  he 


222  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

replied,  u  No,  sir,  it  is  not  a  truth,  it  is  a  —  Stor- 
mont."  And  immediately  a  Storraont  became 
another  name  for  a  lie.  To  another  who  came 
to  lament  with  him  over  the  retreat  through 
the  Jerseys  and  the  misery  at  Valley  Forge, 
he  replied,  "  (Jn  ira,  9a  ira  5  "  (ifc  wiU  a^  come 
right  in  the  end.)  Frenchmen  took  up  the 
words,  remembered  them,  and  in  a  time  yet 
more  terrible  made  them  a  revolutionary  cry. 

To  the  people  he  was  the  personification  of 
the  rights  of  man.  It  was  seldom  that  he 
entered  Paris.  But  when  he  did  so,  his  dress, 
his  \vigless  head,  his  spectacles,  his  walking 
stick,  and  his  great  fur  cap  marked  him  out 
as  the  American.  If  he  went  on  foot,  a  crowd 
was  sure  to  follow  at  his  heels.  If  he  entered 
the  theatre,  a  court  of  justice,  a  public  resort  of 
any  kind,  the  people  were  sure  to  burst  forth 
into  shouts  of  applause.  Their  hats,  coats, 
canes,  snuff-boxes,  were  all  a  la  Franklin.  To 
sit  at  table  with  him  was  an  honor  greatly 
sought.  Poets  wrote  him  wretched  sonnets. 
Noble  dames  addressed  him  in  detestable  verse. 
Women  crowned  his  head  with  flowers.  Grave 
Academicians  shouted  with  ecstasy  to  see  him 
give  Voltaire  a  kiss.  No  house  was  quite  in 
fashion  that  did  not  have  a  Franklin  portrait 
over  the  chimney-piece,  a  Franklin  stove  in  one 
of  the  chambers,  and  in  the  garden,  a  liberty 


FRENCH  ESTIMATES   OF  FRANKLIN.       223 

tree  planted  by  his  hand.  The  "  Gazette  "  of 
Amiens  undertook  to  prove  that  his  ancestors 
had  been  French. 

With  adulation  so  gross  were  mingled,  how 
ever,  some  sneers  of  contempt.  The  author  of 
a  "History  of  a  French  Louse"  loaded  him 
with  abuse,  and  described  him  as  a  vulgar  fel 
low  with  wrinkled  forehead  and  warty  face, 
with  teeth  that  might  have  been  taken  for 
cloves  had  they  not  been  fast  in  a  heavy  jaw, 
and  with  the  manners  and  gestures  of  a  fop. 
Marquise  de  Crequi  could  not  abide  him  because 
he  ate  eggs  with  pepper,  salt,  and  butter  in  a 
goblet,  and  cut  his  melon  with  a  knife.  "  'Tis 
the  fashion  nowadays,"  sneered  a  third,  "  to 
have  an  engraving  of  Franklin  over  one's  man 
telpiece,  as  it  was  formerly  to  have  a  jum ping- 
jack."1  Capefigue  long  afterwards  described 
him  as  one  of  the  great  charlatans  of  the  eigh 
teenth  century. 

But  these  sneers,  if  heard  at  all,  passed  un 
heeded.  Franklin  was  an  American,  and  what 
ever  was  American  was  right.  One  French 
sheet  pronounced  the  revolution  the  most  in 
teresting  of  its  day.  Another  printed  trans 
lations  of  the  circular  letters  of  congress.  A 

1  For  many  facts  relating  to  Franklin  in  France  I  am  in 
debted  to  a  most  excellent  book,  "  America  and  France,"  by 
Lewis  Rosemhal. 


224  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

third  went  to  the  cost  of  getting  news  direct 
from  Boston.  All  over  France  the  press 
abounded  with  spicy  "  Anecdotes  Arnericaiues." 
American  maps,  books,  almanacs  were  eagerly 
sought  for.  It  was  now  that  Suard  translated 
Robertson's  America,  that  Dubuisson  put  forth 
"  Abrdge*  de  la  Revolution  de  1'Amerique  An- 
glaise,"  that  school-children  for  the  first  time 
read  "  Science  du  Bonhomme  Richard." 

Seizing  the  opportunity,  Franklin  had  a 
hasty  translation  of  the  state  constitutions 
made  by  M.  Dubourg,  and  spread  them  over  the 
country.  The  effect  was  astonishing.  Liberty, 
constitutions,  rights  of  man,  began  to  be  heard 
on  every  hand.  Some  found  fault  with  the 
constitutions  of  New  Jersey  and  North  Caro 
lina  for  excluding  Roman  Catholics  from  office. 
Some  thought  Massachusetts  wrong  in  giving 
Harvard  College  power  to  bestow  honorary 
degrees,  which  were  undemocratic.  A  few 
blamed  the  states  for  servilely  following  the 
laws  and  usages  of  England.  But  the  "  Mer- 
cure  de  France  "  was  loud  in  its  praises  of  the 
constitutions,  and  the  opinion  of  the  "  Mercure  " 
was  the  opinion  of  France. 

There  was,  however,  one  point  to  which 
enthusiasm  for  America  did  not  go.  French 
men  were  ready  to  burst  into  raptures  over  the 
Declaration  of  Independence,  to  laud  the  thir- 


WRITINGS  ON  FINANCE.  225 

teen  constitutions  as  a  "code  that  marks  an 
epoch  in  the  history  of  philosophy,"  to  name 
Americans  "  the  brave  generous  children  of 
liberty,"  to  call  Franklin  the  Solon  and  Wash 
ington  the  Fabius  of  the  age,  and  to  hurry 
to  their  maps  to  put  their  fingers  on  Bunker 
Hill,  on  Trenton,  and  the  line  of  retreat  through 
New  Jersey ;  they  were  eager  to  have  their 
king  send  ships  and  troops  and  money  to  the 
"  insurgents,"  —  but  they  were  not  disposed  to 
invest  their  private  savings  in  American  scrip. 

To  persuade  them  to  part  with  their  money, 
Franklin  now  wrote  "  A  Comparison  of  Great 
Britain  and  America  as  to  credit  in  1777  ;  "  "A 
Catechism  relative  to  the  English  National 
Debt;"  and  "A  Dialogue  between  Britain, 
France,  Spain,  Holland,  Saxony,  and  America," 
had  the  pieces  translated  into  four  languages, 
and  sent  to  the  money  centers  of  Europe.  But 
they  did  not  bring  forth  one  groat.  Nor  can 
any  one  who  will  take  the  pains  to  read  them 
be  at  a  loss  to  know  why.  The  style  is  ex 
cellent  ;  the  wit  is  good ;  the  illustrations  are 
apt ;  the  facts  are  true.  But  there  is  not  in 
them  a  single  reason  which  could  persuade  a 
capitalist  to  loan  money  to  the  rebellious  sub 
jects  of  King  George.  It  was  true  that  indus 
try,  frugality,  honesty,  prompt  payment  of  for 
mer  loans,  ought  to  do  much  towards  settling 


226  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

up  the  credit  of  a  nation.  It  was  true  that 
America  had  shown  all  these  essentials.  It  was 
true  that  England  owed  one  hundred  and  ninety- 
five  millions  of  pound  sterling ;  that  to  count 
out  so  vast  a  sum  in  shilling-pieces  would  take 
a  man  one  hundred  and  forty-eight  years  ;  that 
when  counted  the  shillings  would  weigh  sixty- 
two  millions  of  pounds,  and  fill  thirty-one  thou 
sand  carts.  But  it  was  also  true  that  New 
York  was  in  British  hands,  that  the  American 
Fabius  had  been  badly  beaten,  that  American 
independence  was  yet  to  be  won,  and  that  on 
independence  hung  the  value  of  the  American 
loan.  Poor  Richard  had  himself  said,  "  A  bird 
in  the  hand  is  worth  two  in  the  bush,"  and  the 
money-lenders  took  him  at  his  word. 

With  these  exceptions  he  wrote  scarcely  any 
thing  for  months  but  letters  and  despatches, 
and  of  them  he  wrote  as  few  as  he  could.  He 
was  an  old  man  ;  he  hated  the  details  of  busi 
ness.  Moreover,  he  loved  his  ease,  and  was 
fond  of  society,  as  he  found  the  most  brilliant 
society  in  France  fond  of  him.  It  ceases  there 
fore  to  be  strange  that  he  spent  more  time  in 
the  company  of  his  companions  than  in  the 
company  of  the  suitors  and  sight -seers  that 
came  to  Passy. 

John  Adams,  who  joined  him  a  few  months 
later,  drew  a  sketch  of  him  in  a  letter  to  Samuel 


HIS  LIFE  AT  PASSY.  227 

Adams,  a  sketch  that  is  good  enough  and  true 
enough  to  be  given  in  the  writer's  words  :  "  The 
other  you  know  personally,  and  that  he  loves 
his  ease,  hates  to  offend,  and  seldom  gives  any 
opinion  till  obliged  to  do  it.  I  know  also,  and 
it  is  necessary  that  you  should  be  informed, 
that  he  is  overwhelmed  with  a  correspondence 
from  all  quarters,  most  of  them  upon  trifling 
subjects  and  in  a  more  trifling  style,  with  un 
meaning  visits  from  multitudes  of  people, 
chiefly  from  the  vanity  of  having  it  to  say  that 
they  have  seen  him.  There  is  another  thing 
which  I  am  obliged  to  mention.  There  are  so 
many  private  families,  ladies,  and  gentlemen 
that  he  visits  so  often,  and  they  are  so  fond  of 
him,  that  he  cannot  well  avoid  it,  —  and  so 
much  intercourse  with  Academicians,  that  all 
these  things  together  keep  his  mind  in  a  con 
stant  state  of  dissipation."  Business  might  drag, 
contractors  might  grow  impatient,  letters  might 
accumulate,  his  papers  might  lie  around  in 
hideous  disorder.  But  he  must  have  his  after 
noon  at  Moulin  Joly,  or  his  evening  chat  with 
Morellet  at  Auteuil.  Strangers  who  came  to 
see  him  were  amazed  to  behold  papers  of  the 
greatest  importance  scattered  in  the  most  care 
less  way  over  the  table  and  the  floor.  A  few 
went  so  far  as  to  remonstrate.  They  reminded 
him  that  spies  surrounded  him  on  every  hand, 


BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

and  suggested  that  half  an  hour  a  day  given  to 
the  busn-ess  would  enable  his  grandson^  put 
the  papers  out  Of  the  reach  of  ..  ? 

To   such   L»  invariable   answer  was,  that  he 

ness'th  tY    "T to  be  engaged  in  a°y busi- 

«  that  he  would  not  gladly   have  generally 
known,  and   kept   his   papers  as  carelessly  as 

\The  independence  of  America  had  not  as  yet 
been    acknowledged.     Nor   had  the  American 
comm,ssionerS,   except   as    pl.ivate          tiemen 
been   received  by  Vergenne,     But  Lir  b£ 
ness  was  more  than  half  suspected,  and  they 
were  soon  beset  by  every  man  who  had  any 
thing  to  gam.     To  the  room  which  served  as  an 
office  came  merchants  seeking  for  tobacco  con- 
tracts;  solders  lo»ging  ^  commissions  in  the 
army  o   the  United  States  one  grade  higher  than 
that  which  they  held  in  the  army  of  France 
contractors   eager   to  supply  clothes   and  am! 
numtu*;  sea  captains   begging  for  letters  of 
marque,  and  shipbuilders  offering  vessels  of  all 
sizes  to   be   used   as   privateers.     Some   came 
themselves,  some  brought  letters  of  introduction 
from  strangers  of  whom  the  commissioners  had 
never  so  much  as  heard.     A  few  wrote.     One 
sturdy  beggar  sent  word  to  the  commissioners, 
that  ,f  they  would  pay  his  gaming  debts,  he 
would  pray  earnestly  for  the  success  of  their 


WICKES  AND   CONYNGHAM.  229 

cause.  So  endless  were  the  demands,  and  so 
various  were  the  forms  in  which  they  were 
made,  that  Franklin  declared  he  never  met  a 
great  lady,  nor  was  introduced  to  a  man  of 
rank,  never  accepted  an  invitation  to  dinner, 
nor  opened  a  letter,  nor  heard  a  carriage  roll 
into  his  courtyard,  but  he  felt  sure  he  was  to 
be  pestered  for  a  contract  or  a  place. 

To  such  annoyances  were  soon  added  troubles 
of  a  very  different  sort.  The  privateers  began 
to  violate  the  neutrality  of  France.  Lambert 
Wickes  was  thrice  ordered  from  the  ports  of 
France,  and  twice  in  open  defiance  of  the  com 
mand  returned.  Silas  Deane  and  William 
Hodge  had  fitted  out  a  lugger  at  Dunkirk  and 
had  given  it  to  Gustavus  Conyngham  to  com 
mand,  with  strict  injunctions  to  capture  the 
Harwich  packet  plying  between  Holland  and 
England.  So  well  did  he  obey  the  commands 
that  he  was  soon  back  in  Dunkirk  harbor  with 
"  The  Prince  of  Orange  "  as  his  prize.  The 
whole  of  England  was  instantly  in  commotion. 
The  stocks  fell.  Insurance  rose.  The  mer 
chants  put  their  goods  on  board  of  French  ves 
sels,  and  the  English  minister  complained  bit 
terly  to  Vergennes. 

The  offense  of  Wickes  was  made  the  subject 
of  a  long  letter  to  the  commission  on  their  duty 
concerning  the  neutrality  of  France.  But  the 


230  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

offense  of  Conyngham  could  not  be  winked  at ; 
his  prize  was  taken  from  him,  and  he  himself 
was  flung  into  jail.  Nothing  daunted,  Deane 
and  Hodge  bought  and  armed  a  swift  cutter, 
and  applied  to  the  French  minister  for  Conyng 
ham 's  release.  Vergennes  was  assured  that  the 
vessel  should  sail  at  once  for  the  United  States. 
But  Conyngham  was  scarcely  out  of  sight  of 
land  when  he  began  to  make  prizes  of  every 
English  ship  that  came  in  his  way,  and  even 
threatened  to  burn  Lynn.  Vergennes  now 
made  another  show  of  harshness  and  for  a  time 
Mr.  Hodge  was  in  the  Bastille. 

The  day  for  such  severity  was  soon  to  end. 
Nothing  could  check  the  growing  popularity  of 
the  American  rebels.  Vergennes  forbade  the 
crowds  in  the  coffee-houses  to  discuss  "  des  in- 
surgens;"  but  the  people  called  him  a  fool,  a 
dolt,  a  tool  of  England,  and  the  discussions  went 
on.  Vergennes  objected  to  the  publication  of 
Dubourg's  translations  of  the  State  constitu 
tions.  The  government  would  not  give  a  li 
cense  ;  but  the  book  came  out.  Letters  and 
Memoires,  songs  and  catches,  the  caricatures, 
the  nicknames,  the  street  phrases,  all  bear  wit 
ness  to  the  popularity  of  the  American  cause. 
Lafayette  joined  the  rebels,  and  the  nobility  of 
France  was  thrown  into  excitement.  The  Hes 
sians  were  captured  at  Trenton,  and  all  Paris 


THE    COMMISSIONERS  RECEIVED.          231 

rushed  for  maps  of  America  that  they  might 
follow  the  line  of  the  retreat  through  the  Jer 
seys,  and  locate  the  scene  of  the  yet  more  fa 
mous  victory.  Burgoyne  surrendered  at  Sara 
toga,  and  the  joy  at  Paris  could  not  have  been 
greater  had  the  victory  been  won  by  France. 
"  When  shall  we  arm  in  favor  of  the  rebels  ?  " 
was  asked  on  every  hand.  The  king  was  forced 
to  answer,  "  At  once."  News  of  the  surrender 
was  brought  to  Vergennes  on  December  4, 
1777.  December  16,  the  commissioners  were 
told  the  king  would  recognize  the  independence 
of  America  and  make  a  treaty  of  alliance,  at 
once.  February  6,  1778,  the  treaty  was  made. 
In  March,  Franklin,  wigless,  swordless,  in 
buckleless  shoes  and  the  plainest  clothes,  made 
his  way  with  Deane  and  Lee  through  a  crowd 
of  fops  and  painted  beauties  to  the  dressing- 
room  of  the  king,  to  be  formally  received  as  a 
commissioner  from  America.  April  18,  1778, 
D'Estaing  sailed  with  his  fleet  from  Toulon.  ^ 

In  the  flagship  with  D'Estaing  went  Silas 
Deane.  Congress  had  recalled  him  and  in  his 
place  sent  John  Adams,  who  landed  at  Bor 
deaux  the  very  day  the  fleet  left  Toulon.  There 
he  was  received  with  every  manifestation  of  de 
light  :  saw  the  city  lit  up  in  his  honor,  was  vis 
ited  by  innumerable  men  of  note,  read  with 
amusement  in  the  "  Courier  d' Avignon"  that  he 


232  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

was  brother  to  Samuel  Adams,  and  went  on  to 
Passy  to  add  one  more  to  the  little  company  of 
wrangling  Americans.  That  little  band  was 
then  made  up  of  Ralph  Izard,  minister  to  the 
Duke  of  Tuscany,  who  would  not  receive  him  ; 
of  William  Lee,  envoy  to  the  courts  of  Vienna 
and  Berlin  ;  William  Carmichael,  once  secretary 
to  Silas  Deane ;  Benjamin  Franklin,  and  Arthur 
Lee.  Neither  of  the  Lees  could  abide  Frank 
lin.  Franklin  in  turn  detested  Ralph  Izard  ; 
while  Arthur  Lee  never  wearied  of  abusing 
Deane. 

From  these  disputes  Adams  wisely  kept  aloof, 
turned  himself  into  a  drudging  clerk,  brought 
order  into  the  office  of  the  commissioners,  and 
joined  with  all  in  urging  Congress  to  abolish 
the  commission  and  make  one  man  minister  to 
France.  Congress  for  once  took  the  advice,  re 
called  Izard,  passed  over  Arthur  Lee  and  Adams, 
and  chose  Franklin  to  be  minister  to  France. 
Lafayette  brought  out  the  commission,  and  with 
it  came  a  letter  bidding  the  agents  in  Europe 
quarrel  no  more.  But  the  command  was  not 
heeded,  and  to  the  last  hour  of  their  stay  in 
France,  Arthur  Lee  and  Izard  lost  no  opportu 
nity  to  thwart  and  annoy  Franklin. 

After  the  alliance  time  became  more  plenti 
ful  with  Franklin,  and  he  once  more  began  to 
write.  To  this  he  was  prompted  by  a  wish  to 


MADAME  BRILLON.  233 

amuse  two  fine  women,  Madame  Helvetius  and 
Madame  Brillon,  whose  company  he  greatly  en 
joyed.  Madame  Brillon  was  the  wife  of  a  man 
of  wealth,  and  the  mother  of  two  daughters 
who  played  and  sang.  She  dwelt  not  far  from 
Passy,  and  to  her  home  Franklin  went  twice 
each  week  to  play  chess,  to  hear  the  music, 
and  sup  tea  which  it  was  the  fashion  for 
the  young  women  to  serve.  Madame  Helve 
tius  dwelt  at  Auteuil.  She  was  a  widow  of 
ample  means ;  for  her  husband,  though  a  man 
of  letters,  had  been  a  farmer-general  of  France, 
and  to  her  Franklin  seems  to  have  been  bound 
by  more  than  common  friendship.  Indeed, 
there  are  not  wanting  some  to  say  that,  had  the 
lady  been  willing,  he  would  gladly  have  made 
her  his  wife.  To  know  something  concerning 
her  would  therefore  be  of  interest ;  but  we  are 
forced  to  be  content  with  two  portraits  drawn 
the  one  by  a  man  of  the  world,  the  other  by  a 
woman  of  New  England.  In  the  first,  Madame 
Helvetius  is  presented  to  us  by  Franklin  as  a 
woman  blessed  with  many  and  various  friends. 
Statesmen  and  philosophers,  poets  and  histo 
rians,  learned  men  of  every  sort,  were  drawn 
around  her,  not  because  of  likeness  of  taste,  for 
she  affected  none  of  their  sciences  ;  not  be 
cause  she  took  pains  to  engage  them,  for  art 
less  simplicity  was  a  part  of  her  nature ;  but 


234  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

because  of  a  charming  benevolence,  an  amiable 
desire  to  oblige,  and  a  disposition  to  please 
and  to  be  pleased  they  could  not  find  in  one 
another. 

To  the  wife  of  John  Adams,  however,  Ma 
dame  Helvetius  seemed  a  very  different  crea 
ture.  Mrs.  Adams  had  joined  her  husband  at 
Passy,  and  had  gone  with  him,  one  Sunday 
evening,  to  dine  with  Franklin.  As  the  as 
sembled  company  sat  waiting  for  the  Doctor, 
the  French  woman  suddenly  entered  the  room, 
and  is  thus  described  in  a  letter  by  Mrs. 
Adams  :  — 

"  She  entered  the  room  with  a  careless,  jaunty 
air.  Upon  seeing  ladies  who  were  strangers  to  her, 
she  bawled  out :  '  Ah,  mon  Dieu  !  where  is  Franklin  ? 
Why  did  you  not  tell  me  there  were  ladies  here? 
How  I  look ! '  she  said,  taking  hold  of  a  chemise  made 
of  tiffany,  which  she  had  on  over  a  blue  lutestring, 
and  which  looked  as  much  upon  the  decay  as  her 
beauty,  for  she  was  once  a  handsome  woman.  Her 
hair  was  frizzled  ;  over  it  she  had  a  small  straw  hat, 
with  a  dirty  gauze  half-handkercliief  round  it,  and 
a  bit  of  dirtier  gauze  scarf  thrown  over  her  shoul 
ders.  She  ran  out  of  the  room.  When  she  returned 
the  Doctor  entered  at  one  door,  she  at  the  other  ; 
upon  which  she  ran  forward  to  him,  caught  him  by 
the  hand :  '  Ilelas,  Franklin  ! '  then  gave  him  a  double 
kiss,  one  upon  each  cheek,  and  another  upon  his  fore 
head.  When  we  went  into  the  room  to  dine,  she 


MADAME  HELVETIUS.  235 

was  placed  between  the  Doctor  and  Mr.  Adams. 
She  carried  on  the  chief  of  the  conversation  at  din 
ner,  frequently  locking  her  hand  into  the  Doctor's, 
and  sometimes  spreading  her  arms  upon  the  backs  of 
both  gentlemen's  chairs,  then  throwing  her  arm  care 
lessly  upon  the  Doctor's  neck.  ...  I  own  I  was 
highly  disgusted,  and  never  wish  for  an  acquaintance 
with  any  ladies  of  this  cast.  After  dinner  she  threw 
herself  upon  a  settee,  where  she  showed  more  than 
her  feet.  She  had  a  little  lap-dog,  who  was,  next  to 
the  Doctor,  her  favorite.  This  she  kissed,  and  when 
he  wet  the  floor  she  wiped  it  up  with  her  chemise. 
This  is  one  of  the  Doctor's  most  intimate  friends, 
with  whom  he  dines  once  every  week,  and  she  with 
him." 

It  is  not  unlikely  that  each  portrait  is  in 
part  correct,  and  that  neither  is  complete ;  for 
Franklin  saw  only  her  mental  qualities,  and 
Mrs.  Adams  her  fashionable  follies. 

To  the  weekly  gatherings  at  Auteuil  came 
Abbe  Raynal,  and  Cabanis,  and  Morellet,  and 
Abbe  de  la  Roche,  and  Franklin,  bringing  with 
him  now  and  then  one  of  his  grandsons.  Of 
what  took  place  on  these  occasions  Franklin 
has  made  no  mention,  but  the  Abbe  Morellet 
has,  in  his  "  Memoirs,"  left  us  a  long  account. 
From  this  it  should  seem  that  each  guest  was 
expected  to  contribute  to  the  pleasure  of  all ; 
that  the  meetings  were  always  gay,  and  that 


236  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

for  songs,  anecdotes,  good  stories,  and  pieces  of 
wit,  the  company  were  never  in  want.  Frank 
lin's  contribution  was  sometimes  an  apologue, 
and  sometimes  one  of  the  "  Bagatelles,"  which 
he  would  read  or  pass  round  for  the  amusement 
of  the  company.  Thus  were  written,  for  the 
abbes  and  doctors  that  came  to  the  drawing- 
room  at  Auteuil,  the  "  Visit  to  the  Elysian 
Fields,"  the  drinking-song,  and  the  little  piece 
on  the  motto,  "  Truth  is  in  wine."  Each  of 
these  is  good.  But  the  choice  bits  of  humor 
he  reserved  for  the  chess  parties  and  supper 
parties  at  Moulin  Joli.  For  Madame  Brillon 
were  composed  "The  Story  of  the  Whistle," 
"  The  Ephemera,"  "  The  Petition  of  the  Left 
Hand  to  those  who  have  the  superintendence  of 
Education,"  "  The  Handsome  and  Deformed 
Leg,"  "  The  Morals  of  Chess,"  and  the  famous 
"Dialogue  between  Franklin  and  the  Gout." 
They  need  no  comment.  Every  schoolboy 
knows  "  The  Story  of  the  Whistle."  Ninety 
years  ago  Noah  Webster  put  it  in  his  school- 
reader,  and  few  school-readers  have  been  with 
out  it  since.  Every  chess-player  has  read  "  The 
Morals."  Every  teacher  ought  to  be  converted 
by  the  wisdom  of  "  The  Petition  of  the  Left 
Hand."  That  children  are  still  taught  to  use 
the  right  hand  to  the  exclusion  of  the  left,  is  a 
piece  of  folly  of  which  every  educator  should 


"THE  BAGATELLES."  237 

be  ashamed.  "  The  Ephemera  "  is  an  old  piece 
in  a  new  form,  and  is  of  interest  for  that  very 
reason.  In  1735  Franklin  published  in  the 
Gazette  a  short  essay  on  "Human  Vanity."1 
The  venerable  Ephemera  there  gives  utterance 
to  almost  the  same  lamentation  as  in  the  later 
piece.  But  the  difference  between  the  two  in 
language,  in  arrangement,  in  wit,  is  precisely 
the  difference  between  Franklin's  manner  of 
writing  in  his  old  age  and  in  his  youth. 

In  all  editions  of  Franklin's  works  in  which 
the  "  Bagatelles  "  are  contained,  there  appears 
among  them  a  piece  entitled  "  The  Humble 
Petitions  presented  to  Madame  Helvetius  by 
her  Cats."  But  it  has  no  business  in  the  col 
lection.  Not  a  line  is  Franklin's  work.  Long 
after  he  was  dead  and  gone,  his  grandson  found 
among  his  papers  a  portfolio  marked  "  Baga 
telles."  In  the  portfolio  was  the  "  Humble  Peti 
tion,"  and  when  the  papers  were  published,  the 
"  Petition  "  took  its  place  among  them. 

The  Memoires  of  Abbe  Morellet,  however, 
now  make  it  certain  that  the  Abbe'  was  the 
author;  that  he  wrote  it  as  late  as  1787;  and 
that  he  sent  it  in  a  letter  to  Franklin,  after  the 
Doctor  had  come  home  to  America  for  the  last 
time,  "  as  a  companion  piece,"  says  Morellet, 
"  to  the  *  Thanks '  you  returned  for  the  flies  in 
1  Pennsylvania  Gazette,  December  4,  1735. 


238  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

your  rooms,  after  the  destruction  of  the  spiders 
ordered  by  Our  Lady."  What  became  of  the 
"  Thanks"  is  not  known.  No  trace  of  the  piece 
exists,  even  among  the  papers  at  Washington. 
No  mention  is  made  of  it  by  any  one  save  Mo- 
rellet.  Such  an  utter  disappearance  is  strange, 
for  the  most  trifling  of  his  productions  were 
greatly  admired  by  his  French  friends,  were 
handed  about  for  perusal,  and  copied  over  and 
over  again.  They  were,  moreover,  as  the  manu 
scripts  at  Washington  show,  produced  with 
much  pains  and  labor,  and,  when  written,  were 
looked  after  with  fatherly  care.  Not  a  few, 
indeed,  were  put  in  type  and  struck  off  on  a 
press  set  up  for  his  amusement  at  Passy.  The 
press  he  bought ;  but  the  type  were  cast  in  his 
own  house  from  matrices  made  by  his  grandson, 
Benjamin  Btiche. 

One  of  the  "  Bagatelles  "  so  printed  is  still 
preserved,  and  passes  by  the  name  "  Numb.  705. 
Supplement  to  the  Boston  Independent  Chroni 
cle,  March,  1782."  It  is  printed  in  the  form 
in  which  newspaper  supplements  were  then  is 
sued,  and  contains  two  fictitious  letters.  One 
is  from  John  Paul  Jones  to  Sir  Joseph  Yorke, 
defending  himself  against  the  charge  of  piracy. 
The  other  is  called  "  Extract  of  a  Letter  from 
Captain  Gerrish,  of  the  New  England  Militia." 
The  captain  states  that  in  an  expedition  to  the 


THE  "SUPPLEMENT."  239 

Oswegatchie,  on  the  St.  Lawrence,  a  quantity 
of  peltry  was  taken,  and  among  it  eight  pack 
ages  of  scalps.  With  the  scalps  was  a  letter  to 
the  Canadian  governor  from  James  Crauford, 
a  trader,  explaining  whence  they  came  and 
from  whom  the  Indians  took  them.  Neither 
of  the  letters  is  remarkable  for  wit,  and  so 
scarce  is  the  Supplement  that  it  seems  quite 
likely  that  not  a  dozen  copies  were  printed. 
Yet,  scarce  as  the  Supplement  is,  the  pretended 
letter  of  Crauford  seems  to  be  known  to  men 
who  have  never  read  so  much  as  the  table  of 
contents  of  the  editions  of  Franklin's  works, 
and  has  in  our  own  day  been  printed  as  con 
taining  historical  facts.  Indeed,  not  long  since 
a  Philadelphia  newspaper1  published  the  letter 
in  full,  with  the  assurance  that  it  was  "  found 
in  the  baggage  of  General  Burgoyne  after  his 
surrender  to  General  Gates ; "  that  it  "  was 
probably  sent  by  an  Indian'  runner  to  Bur 
goyne,  to  be  forwarded  to  the  governor,"  and 
that  Crauford  "  was  probably  a  resident  Brit 
ish  agent  with  the  Senecas." 

During  the  remainder  of  his  stay  in  France 
Franklin  wrote  but  little.  For  a  year  his  time 
was  taken  up  with  the  framing  of  the  prelimi 
nary  articles  of  peace,  and  the  drafting  of  the 

1  "  A  gift  to  King  George."    Philadelphia  Times,  July  3, 

1887. 


240  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

definitive  treaty.  But  in  1784  lie  gave  to  the 
world  his  "  Remarks  concerning  the  Savages  of 
North  America,"  and  "  Information  to  those 
•who  would  remove  to  America."  Fifty  years 
ago  it  was  customary  to  ascribe  to  him  a  piece 
on  the  American  custom  of  "  whitewashing." 
Indeed,  some  editions  of  his  works  contain  it. 
But  the  piece,  was  written  by  Francis  Hopkin- 
son  and  may  be  found  in  Carey's  "  American 
Museum." 

Franklin  had  now  entered  his  seventy-ninth 
year.  Old  age  had  laid  upon  him  many  in 
firmities,  and  he  longed  more  earnestly  than 
ever  to  be  again  in  America.  He  had  twice 
asked  to  be  recalled,  once  in  1781  and  again 
in  1782.  Congress  answered  the  first  request 
by  making  him  a  member  of  the  peace  commis 
sion.  But  of  the  second,  made  after  the  pre 
liminary  articles  had  been  signed,  no  notice 
was  taken  till  March,  1785.  It  was  then  ac 
cepted  with  great  reluctance,  and  Thomas  Jef 
ferson  appointed  in  his  stead. 

As  he  was  far  too  feeble  to  go  to  Versailles 
to  take  leave,  he  wrote  a  farewell  letter  to  the 
minister  of  foreign  affairs,  and  received  in  re 
turn  some  gracious  words  and  a  portrait  of  the 
king  set  round  with  diamonds.  He  had  in 
tended  to  go  by  water  to  the  sea  ;  but  he  was 
not  able  to  set  out  till  July,  and  the  Seine  was 


THE   VOYAGE  HOME.  241 

then  too  low.  The  queen,  therefore,  loaned 
him  her  litter,  and  in  this  he  went  by  easy 
stages  to  Havre.  From  Havre  he  crossed  to 
Southampton.  Even  there  honors  awaited  him. 
The  British  government  would  collect  no  duty 
on  his  goods.  His  old  friend  the  Bishop  of  St. 
Asaph  hastened  down  to  bid  him  Godspeed, 
and  beg  him  to  write  more  of  the  Autobiog 
raphy  while  on  the  sea.  But  he  gave  the  re 
quest  no  heed,  and  spent  the  seven  weeks  on 
the  ship  in  writing  pamphlets.  One  treated  of 
navigation,  of  sails  and  cables,  of  ships  and 
their  make,  of  the  Gulf  Stream,  of  the  ways  of 
giving  motion  to  boats,  and  of  the  care  to  be 
taken  by  those  about  to  go  to  sea.  Another 
dealt  with  the  causes  and  cure  of  smoky  chim 
neys.  The  third  was  an  account  of  a  stove  for 
burning  pit-coal. 

He  was  still  busy  with  these  when,  on  the 
14th  of  September,  the  ship  made  fast  to  the 
Market  Street  wharf.  A  discharge  of  cannon 
announced  his  arrival.  All  the  church-bells 
rang  out  a  merry  peal,  while  crowds  of  his  fel 
low-citizens  hurried  to  the  wharf  to  meet  him, 
and  escort  him  to  his  home.  The  next  day  the 
general  assembly  welcomed  him  and  assured  him 
that  his  deeds  would  be  set  down  in  history  to 
his  immortal  honor.  The  faculty  of  the  Uni 
versity  of  Pennsylvania,  the  members  of  the 

16 


242  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

Constitutional  Society,  the  American  Philosoph 
ical  Society,  the  officers  of  the  militia,  the  jus 
tices  of  the  city,  followed  suit.  The  people  in 
stantly  chose  him  a  member  of  the  council,  and 
the  council  and  the  assembly  made  him  presi 
dent  of  the  commonwealth.  In  the  crowd  that 
saw  him,  on  the  day  he  took  the  oath  of  office, 
preceded  by  constables  and  sub-sheriffs,  high 
sheriff  and  coroners  with  their  wands,  judges 
and  marshals  and  wardens,  and  collectors  of 
customs  and  officers  of  the  tonnage,  and  all  the 
great  officers  of  state,  was  a  young  printer  from 
Ireland.  His  name  was  Matthew  Carey,  and  he 
had  when  a  lad  of  nineteen  offended  the  Eng 
lish  government  by  announcing  for  publication 
at  Dublin  a  pamphlet  on  the  immediate  repeal 
of  the  penal  code  against  Roman  Catholics. 
The  government  offered  a  reward  for  his  arrest. 
His  father  suppressed  the  pamphlet  and  sent 
his  boy  to  Paris.  There  for  a  while  he  copied 
despatches  for  Franklin,  came  back  to  Dublin, 
started  a  newspaper,  and  was  soon  in  jail  for 
lampooning  the  prime  minister.  When  he  was 
out  he  came  over  to  Philadelphia,  where  in  1785 
Lafayette  gave  him  the  means  to  found  "The 
Pennsylvania  Evening  Herald  and  American 
Monitor."  In  the  columns  of  that  newspaper 
he  now  gave  an  account  of  what  he  saw,  and 
addressed  Franklin  in  some  fulsome  verses  less 
honorable  to  his  head  than  to  his  heart. 


BIB  > 


Franklin  was  now  at  the  very  "Height  of  Ids 
fame.  Every  ship  brought  him  letters  from 
the  most  renowned  men  Europe  could  produce. 
Not  a  traveler  came  to  America  but  turned 
aside  to  see  him.  Pamphleteers  and  book 
makers  did  him  reverence  in  fulsome  dedica 
tions.  Towns  were  proud  to  bear  his  name. 
The  State  of  Franklin  took  its  appellation  from 
him.  No  newspaper  mentioned  him  without 
some  grateful  remark.  He  was  "the  venerable 
Dr.  Franklin,"  "the  revered  patriot  Dr.  Frank 
lin,"  "our  illustrious  countryman  and  friend  of 
man,"  "the  father  of  American  independence." 
To  his  house  came  regularly  the  Philosophical 
Society,  the  Abolition  Society,  the  Society  for 
Political  Education. 

The  purpose  of  this  society  seems  to  have 
been  to  discuss  theories  of  government,  and  to 
listen  to  long  papers  on  the  evils  of  banks,  on 
the  blessings  of  paper  money,  on  the  best  way 
to  restore  the  ruined  commerce  of  America. 
More  than  one  of  these  papers  found  its  way 
into  print,  and  it  is  not  unlikely  that  Franklin 
himself  entertained  the  members  by  reading  to 
them  from  time  to  time  the  "  Retort  Courteous," 
his  remarks  on  "  Sending  Felons  to  America," 
and  his  likeness  of  the  An  ti-  federalists  to  the 
Jews. 

The  paper  on  the  Felons  is  in  one  of  the 


244  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

Pennsylvania  Gazettes  for  1786.  He  observed 
that  the  British  public  were  growing  clamorous 
on  the  subject  of  the  debts  due  their  mer 
chants  before  the  war.  But  there  was  a  debt 
of  long  standing  about  which  nothing  was  said, 
and  which  might  now  be  paid.  Everybody 
remembered  the  time  when  the  mother  country, 
as  a  mark  of  paternal  tenderness,  emptied  her 
gaols  into  America  for  "  the  better  peopling," 
as  she  termed  it,  of  the  colonies.  America  was 
therefore  much  in  debt  on  that  account ;  and 
as  Great  Britain  was  eager  for  a  settlement  of 
old  accounts,  this  was  a  good  one  to  begin  with. 
Let  every  English  ship  that  comes  to  our  shores 
be  forbidden  to  land  her  goods  till  the  master 
gave  bonds  to  carry  back  one  felon  for  every 
fifty  tons  of  burden.  These  remittances  could 
easily  be  made,  for  the  felons  she  had  planted 
had  increased  most  amazingly. 

The  "Retort  Courteous"  also  treats  of  the 
debts.  The  clamor  which  had  so  long  been 
going  the  rounds  of  the  British  press  had  now 
been  taken  up  by  the  ministry,  and  the  Ameri 
cans  made  to  understand  that  the  posts  along 
the  frontier  would  not  be  given  up  till  the 
debts  due  the  British  were  paid.  The  justness 
of  this  conduct  is  coolly  and  honestly  examined 
in  the  "  Retort."  The  substance  of  the  paper 
is,  that,  having  brought  America,  by  their  own 


THE  "RETORT  COURTEOUS."  245 

wicked  acts,  to  the  very  brink  of  ruin,  they  now 
cry  out  that  old  scores  are  not  settled.  Gen 
eral  Gage  takes  possession  of  Boston,  shuts  the 
gates,  cuts  off  communication  with  the  coun 
try,  brings  the  people  to  the  verge  of  starva 
tion,  and  then  tells  them  if  they  will  deliver  up 
their  arms  they  may  leave  with  their  families 
and  their  goods.  The  arms  are  given  up,  and 
they  are  then  told  that  "  goods  "  mean  chairs, 
tables,  beds,  but  not  merchandise.  Merchant 
goods  he  seizes,  and  the  cry  at  once  goes  up, 
"  Those  Boston  people  do  not  pay  their  debts." 
One  act  of  Parliament  shuts  the  port  of 
Boston;  another  destroys  the  New  England 
fishery ;  a  British  army  harries  the  country, 
burns  Falmouth  and  Charlestown,  Fairfield  and 
New  London ;  and  the  whole  world  is  told, 
"  Those  knavish  Americans  will  not  pay  us." 

The  humane  Dr.  Johnson,  in  his  "  Taxation 
no  Tyranny,"  suggests  that  the  slaves  be  ex 
cited  to  rise,  cut  the  throats  of  their  masters, 
and  come  to  the  British  army.  The  thing  is 
done,  and  the  planters  of  Virginia  and  the 
Carolinas  lose  thirty  thousand  of  their  laboring 
people,  and  are  in  turn  denounced  as  men  who 
do  not  pay  their  debts.  War  having  put  a  stop 
to  the  shipment  of  tobacco,  the  crops  of  several 
years  are  piled  up  in  the  inspecting  ware 
houses,  and  in  the  private  stores  of  the  Virginia 


246  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

planters.  Then  comes  Arnold,  Phillips,  and 
Cornwallis,  and  the  British  troops.  The  tobacco 
is  burned,  and  the  British  merchants,  to  whom 
it  might  have  been  sent  in  payment  of  debt, 
exclaim,  "Those  damned  Virginians!  why  don't 
they  pay  their  debts?" 

The  seventh  article  of  the  treaty  sets  forth 
that  the  king's  troops  in  leaving  America  should 
take  no  negroes  with  them.  Guy  Carleton 
goes  off  with  several  hundred.  The  treaty 
is  thus  broken  almost  as  soon  as  made.  But 
why  should  England  keep  a  treaty  when  the 
Americans  do  not  pay  their  debts? 

During  1787  he  wrote  nothing.  He  was  still 
president  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Pennsyl 
vania.  He  was  a  delegate  to  the  convention 
that  framed  the  Constitution,  and  the  duties  of 
the  two  posts  left  no  time  for  literature.  In 
1788  he  drew  a  comparison  of  the  conduct  of 
the  ancient  Jews  and  the  A  nti- federalists  in 
the  United  States  of  America.  In  1789  came 
a  "Plea  for  improving  the  Condition  of  Free 
Blacks;"  an  "Address  to  the  Public  from  the 
Pennsylvania  Society  for  Promoting  Abolition 
of  Slavery;"  and  "An  Account  of  the  Su- 
premest  Court  of  Judicature  in  Pennsylvania, 
namely,  the  Court  of  the  Press." 

The  press  for  two  years  past  had  been  grow 
ing  most  abusive.  Men  who  two  years  before 


LIBERTY  OF  THE  PRESS.  247 

had  been  held  up  as  models  of  every  repub 
lican  virtue  had,  since  the  Constitution  was 
framed,  been  blackened,  named  rogue  or  villain, 
and  fairly  dragged  in  the  mire.  Washington 
had  been  called  by  the  Anti-federalists  a  fool  by 
nature.  The  same  party  had  described  Frank 
lin  a  fool  from  old  age.  To  this  he  replied 
good-naturedly  in  a  letter  proposing  that  to 
the  liberty  of  the  press  should  be  added  the 
more  ancient  liberty  of  the  cudgel.  In  a  hu 
morous  way  he  reviewed  the  power  of  the  court, 
the  practice  of  the  court,  the  foundation  of  its 
authority,  by  whom  it  was  commissioned,  and 
the  checks  proper  to  be  set  up  against  the  bad 
use  of  its  powers.  The  authority  came  from 
the  article  in  the  State  Constitution  which 
established  the  liberty  of  the  press,  something 
every  Pennsylvania!!  was  ready  to  die  for,  but 
which  very  few  understood.  To  him  the  liberty 
of  the  press  seemed  like  the  liberty  of  the  press 
felons  had  in  England ;  that  is,  the  liberty  of 
being  pressed  to  death  or  hanged.  If,  as  many 
thought,  liberty  of  the  press  meant  the  liberty 
of  abusing  each  other,  he  would  gladly  give  up 
his  share  of  the  liberty  of  abusing  others  for  the 
privilege  of  not  being  abused  himself.  A  great 
deal  had  been  said  of  late  about  the  needs  of 
checks  on  the  powers  of  the  Constitution.  For 
like  reasons  it  might  be  well  to  put  a  check  on 


248  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

the  powers  of  the  court  of  the  press,  and  his 
proposition  was,  leave  the  liberty  of  the  press 
untouched,  but  let  the  liberty  of  the  cudgel  go 
with  it  pari  passu.  Then  if  a  writer  attacked 
you,  and  put  his  name  to  the  charge,  you  could 
go  to  him  just  as  openly  and  break  his  head. 
Should  he  take  refuge  behind  the  printer,  and 
you  knew  who  he  was,  you  could  waylay  him 
some  dark  'night,  come  up  behind  and  soundly 
drub  him.  This  might  cause  breaches  of  the 
peace.  Then  let  the  legislators  take  up  both 
liberties,  that  of  the  cudgel  and  that  of  the 
press,  and  by  law  fix  their  exact  limits. 

The  Doctor  had  now  become  a  great  sufferer. 
The  gout  had  long  tormented  him  sorely.  For 
a  year  past  the  stone  had  kept  him  much  in 
bed,  racked  with  pain,  which  he  took  large 
doses  of  laudanum  to  allay.  It  was  during  a 
brief  respite  from  these  attacks  that  he  wrote 
and  sent  off  to  the  "  Federal  Gazette "  his  last 
piece.  Both  the  style  and  the  matter  make  it 
worthy  to  close  so  long  and  so  splendid  a  career. 

The  house  of  representatives  had,  off  and 
on,  for  a  month  past,  been  considering  some  pe 
titions  on  slavery.  Two  came  from  the  yearly 
meetings  of  the  Quakers,  and  prayed  that  the 
slave  trade  might  be  suppressed.  One  written 
and  signed  by  Franklin  came  from  the  Penn 
sylvania  Abolition  Society,  and  prayed  that 


HIS  DEATH.  249 

slavery  might  be  suppressed.  The  house  sent 
them  all  to  a  committee;  the  committee  made 
a  report,  and  on  that  report  James  Jackson,  of 
Georgia,  made  a  violent  pro-slavery  speech. 
Franklin  read  it  with  just  contempt,  and  turned 
it  into  ridicule.  He  pretended  to  have  read  in 
an  old  book  called  "  Martin's  Account  of  his 
Consulship"  a  very  similar  speech  on  a  very  sim 
ilar  petition.  The  speaker  was  Sidi  Mehemet 
Ibrahim,  a  member  of  the  Divan  of  Algiers, 
and  the  occasion  a  petition  of  the  sect  of  Erika 
or  Purists,  praying  that  the  practice  of  enslav 
ing  Christians  might  be  stopped.  The  speech 
of  Ibrahim  against  granting  the  prayer  is  a 
fine  parody  of  that  of  Jackson,  and  worthy  of 
Franklin  in  his  best  days. 

But  his  best  days  were  gone.  The  stone  be 
came  more  painful  than  ever.  Early  in  April, 
pleurisy  attacked  him  ;  an  abscess  of  the  lungs 
followed,  and  on  the  night  of  April  17,  1790, 
he  passed  quietly  away.  His  body,  followed 
by  a  great  crowd  of  citizens,  was  laid  by  that 
of  his  wife  in  the  yard  of  Christ  Church.  For 
a  time  the  mourning  was  general.  The  news 
papers  appeared  with  inverted  column  rules. 
Congress  wore  a  black  badge  for  thirty  days. 
But  in  France  the  demonstration  was  greater 
still.  The  National  Assembly  put  on  mourn- 


250  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

ing.  The  city  of  Passy  gave  his  name  to  a 
street.  He  was  lauded  by  Fauchet  before  the 
Commune  of  Paris;  by  Condorcet  before  the 
Academic  des  Sciences  ;  by  Rochefoucauld 
Liancourt  before  the  Society  of  '89. 


CHAPTER   IX. 

THE  AUTOBIOGRAPHY. 

No  sooner  was  the  great  man  dead  than  his 
life  and  works  fell  a  prey  to  biographers  and 
editors.  For  this  he  was  himself  to  blame. 
Long  before  he  died,  he  saw  many  of  his  letters 
and  pieces  published  and  republished,  in  maga 
zines  and  newspapers,  both  at  home  and  abroad. 
He  well  knew  that,  do  what  he  might,  they 
would  live.  Yet  he  would  not  arrange  and 
publish  them  himself,  nor  gather  them  with  a 
view  to  being  published  by  his  executors.  The 
great  discoveries  with  which  his  name  was 
joined,  the  events  in  which  he  had  borne  so 
striking  a  part,  made  his  life  of  no  common  in 
terest  to  his  countrymen.  Yet  it  was  only  by 
pestering  that  he  was  led  to  go  on  with  an 
Autobiography  begun  with  diffidence,  and  never 
brought  to  a  close. 

So  much  as  now  makes  the  five  opening 
chapters  was  written  during  a  visit  to  the 
Bishop  of  St.  Asaph,  at  Twyford,  in  1771. 
The  visit  over,  the  writing  stopped,  and  the 


252  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

manuscript  was  left  to   begin  a  career   more 
strange  than  any  in  the  history  of  literature. 

When  Franklin  set  out  for  Paris  in  1776, 
he  left  his  papers  in  the  care  of  his  friend  Jo 
seph  Galloway.  Galloway  carried  the  trunk 
containing  them  to  his  home  in  Bucks  County, 
and  placed  it  in  an  outhouse  that  served  as  an 
office,  turned  loyalist,  and  hurried  to  the  army 
of  Clinton  at  New  York.  Abandoned  thus  to 
the  care  of  his  wife,  his  property  fell  a  prey  to 
the  vicissitudes  of  war.  Pennsylvania  confis 
cated  the  estate.  The  British  raided  the  house, 
smashed  the  trunk,  and  scattered  the  papers  of 
Franklin  over  the  floor,  where  they  lay  for 
months.  A  few  were  picked  up  by  Benjamin 
Bache,  and  in  time  a  bundle  of  them  fell  into 
the  hands  of  Abel  James,  a  Quaker,  and  an 
ardent  admirer  and  warm  friend  of  Franklin. 
James  found  the  packet  to  consist  of  a  quantity 
of  notes,  and  twenty  sheets  of  closely  written 
manuscript.  It  was  that  part  of  the  Autobi 
ography  which  had  been  written  at  Twyford 
in  1771.  Delighted  that  such  a  treasure  should 
have  come  in  his  way,  James  made  a  careful 
copy  and  sent  it  in  1782  to  Franklin  at  Passy. 
With  it  went  an  urgent  letter  begging  him  to 
go  on  with  so  profitable  and  pleasing  a  work. 
The  warmth  of  the  appeal,  the  sight  of  the 
fragment  long  thought  lost,  were  not  without 


THE  MANUSCRIPT.  253 

effect  upon  him.  His  labor  had  not  been  wast 
ed.  A  purpose  once  abandoned  might  yet  be 
accomplished.  He  hesitated,  sent  both  letter 
and  manuscript  to  his  friend  B.  Vaughan,  and 
from  Vaughan,  in  1783,  came  back  a  still  more 
urgent  entreaty  to  go  on. 

Franklin  was  then  deep  in  affairs  of  state. 
Peace  negotiations  were  on  foot.  The  treaty 
was  being  framed.  He  was  too  busy  making 
the  history  of  his  country  to  find  time  to  write 
the  history  of  his  life.  But  in  1784  he  under 
took  the  task,  and  worked  with  diligence  till  he 
went  home  in  1785,  when  he  once  more  put  the 
work  aside.  But  his  friends  would  not  suffer 
him  to  abandon  it.  Again  and  again  Benjamin 
Vaughan  and  M.  le  Veillard  besought  him  to  go 
on.  Again  and  again  he  promised  and  excused 
himself.  His  papers  were  in  disorder.  His  office 
left  him  no  time.  He  would  go  on  with  the 
work  when  the  Constitutional  Convention  rose. 
But  when  it  rose  he  was  suffering  too  much 
from  the  stone.  At  last,  in  1788,  the  promise 
was  kept.  The  Autobiography  was  brought 
down  to  1757,  and  a  fair  copy  sent  to  Dr.  Price 
and  Benjamin  Vaughan.  The  original  went  to 
M.  le  Veillard  and  Rochefoucauld-Liancourt  at 
Paris.  Thus  a  second  time  the  manuscript 
left  the  author,  and  a  second  time  was  doomed 
to  a  series  of  strange  adventures. 


254  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

Hardly  were  the  copies  safe  in  Europe  when 
Franklin  died.  His  books  and  papers  passed  by 
will  to  his  grandson,  and  the  work  of  editing 
began.  With  a  promptness  he  never  showed 
again  in  the  whole  course  of  his  career,  Temple 
Franklin  wrote  at  once  to  M.  le  Veillard,  told 
him  of  the  disposition  made  of  the  papers, 
claimed  the  manuscript  of  the  Autobiography, 
asked  him  to  show  it  to  no  one  unless  some 
eulogist  appointed  by  the  Academie,  and  bade 
him  hold  it,  sealed  in  an  envelope,  addressed 
to  the  owner.  The  letter  bears  date  May  22, 
1790.  But  long  before  it  was  read  at  Passy, 
the  Eighty-nine  Society  of  Paris  had  listened 
with  delight  to  a  fulsome  eulogy  of  Franklin 
pronounced  by  Rochefoucauld.  The  speaker 
assured  the  hearers  that  Franklin  had  written 
his  memoirs ;  that  the  manuscript  was  then 
in  France,  and  that  it  should  be  published 
the  moment  any  additions  that  might  have 
been  made  to  it  came  over  from  America.  He 
has  been  accused  of  keeping  his  word ;  for  in 
March,  1791,  "  Memoirs  de  la  vie  privee  de 
Benjamin  Franklin,  ecrits  par  lui-meme,  et 
adresses  a  son  fils.  Suivis  d'un  precis  histo- 
riques  de  sa  Vie  politique,  et  de  plusieurs  Pieces 
relatives  a  ce  Pere  de  la  Liberte*,"  came  out  at 
Paris.  Buisson  was  the  publisher.  But  who 
the  translator  was,  how  he  got  the  manuscript, 


THE  FRENCH  EDITION  OF  1791.  255 

and  who  owned  it,  can  never  be  known.  He 
would  not,  the  editor  said  in  the  preface,  give 
any  account  of  the  way  the  original  manuscript 
came  into  his  possession.  He  had  it.  It  was 
in  English.  If  any  critic  chose  to  disbelieve 
it,  let  him  leave  his  name  with  Buisson,  book 
seller,  Rue  Hautefeuille  No.  20,  and  when  four 
hundred  subscribers  were  secured  the  memoirs 
should  be  published  in  English.  The  manu 
script  in  his  possession,  it  was  true,  came  down 
no  further  than  1731.  Doubtless  the  family  of 
Franklin  would  soon  give  his  memoirs  to  the 
world  in  a  more  completed  form.  But  the  edi 
tor  was  sure  the  heirs  of  the  great  man  could 
never  be  persuaded  to  give  the  history  of  his 
early  years.  Their  vanity  would  not  permit 
it.  Should  they,  as  he  feared,  suppress  this 
first  part  of  the  memoirs  in  their  edition,  the 
world  at  least  would  be  obliged  to  him  for 
having  preserved  it. 

Scarcely  was  the  book  out  when  M.  le  Veil- 
lard  hastened  to  disavow  it.  On  March  21, 
1791,  he  wrote  a  long  note  to  the  "  Journal  de 
Paris."  He  did  not  know,  he  declared,  how 
the  translator  got  his  copy.  He  had  no  part 
in  the  act.  What  had  appeared  was  not  a  third 
of  what  he  had,  which  came  down  to  1757. 

That  Veillard  told  the  truth  is  not  to  be 
doubted.  It  is  to  his  efforts  more  than  to  any 


256  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

one  else  that  we  owe  the  existence  of  the  Auto 
biography.  He  gave  Franklin  no  peace  till  it 
was  written,  and,  having  obtained  the  manu 
script,  nothing  could  have  induced  him  to  pub 
lish  it  in  so  bad  a  form.  The  Buisson  trans 
lation  is  shamefully  done.  We  have  "  misse 
Read  "  and  u  mistriss  Godfrey,"  but  "  M.  Den- 
ham,  M.  Grace,"  and  "  Rev.  M.  George  White- 
Field."  Cooper's  Creek  becomes  "  Sooper's 
Creek,"  Edinburgh  is  "  Edinbourg,"  "in  the 
Grub-street  ballad  style  "  is  rendered  "  des 
chansons  d'avengles."  When  compared  with 
the  original  manuscript  as  given  in  Mr.  John 
Bigelow's  edition,  dates  are  found  to  be  want 
ing,  names  suppressed,  names  of  cities  inserted, 
and  whole  paragraphs  wanting. 

While  these  things  were  taking  place  at 
Paris,  Temple  Franklin  was  gathering  his 
grandfather's  papers  at  Philadelphia.  That 
none  might  escape  him,  he  thrice  inserted  this 
advertisement  in  his  cousin's  newspaper  : 

"DR.  FRANKLIN'S  PAPERS. 

"  Towards  the  end  of  the  year  1776,  the  late  Dr. 
Franklin,  on  his  departure  for  Europe,  for  greater 
security  deposited  a  large  chest,  containing  his  pa 
pers  and  manuscripts,  with  Mr.  Joseph  Galloway,  at 
his  place  in  Bucks  County,  in  Pennsylvania.  The 
same  was  left  there  by  Mr.  Galloway  when  he 


THE  CALL  FOR  THE  PAPERS.  257 

quitted  his  habitation,  and  was,  it  is  said,  broke  open 
by  persons  unknown,  and  many  of  the  papers  taken 
away  and  dispersed  in  the  neighborhood. 

"  Several  of  the  most  valuable  of  these  papers  have 
since  been  recovered  ;  but  there  are  still  some  miss 
ing,  among  which  are  a  few  of  the  Doctor's  Letter 
Books  and  a  manuscript  in  four  or  five  volumes  folio, 
on  Finance,  Commerce,  and  Manufactures.  The  sub 
scriber,  to  whom  Dr.  Franklin  bequeathed  all  his  pa 
pers  and  manuscripts,  and  who  is  preparing  to  give 
his  works  to  the  public,  takes  this  method  of  inform 
ing  those  who  may  have  knowledge  of  any  of  the 
above  mentioned  papers,  and  will  communicate  the 
same  to  him  so  that  he  may  thereby  be  enabled  to  re 
cover  any  of  them,  or  who  may  themselves  procure 
any  of  them  and  deliver  them  to  him,  shall  be 
thankfully  and  generously  rewarded  and  no  questions 
asked.  Pie  likewise  requests  those  persons  who  may 
have  any  letters  or  other  writings  of  Dr.  Franklin 
that  may  be  deemed  worthy  the  public  eye,  to  be  so 
kind  as  to  forward  them  as  early  as  possible,  that 
they  may  be  inserted  in  the  Doctor's  Works. 

"Those,  also,  who  may  have  any  books  or  maps 
belonging  to  the  library  of  the  late  Dr.  Franklin, 
are  desired  to  return  them  without  delay,  to  the  sub 
scriber,  who  is  about  to  embark  for  Europe. 

"W.  T.  FRANKLIN." 

What  response  was  made  to  his  call  is  not 
known.  That  some  of  the  letter -books  and 
papers  were  sent  back  is  quite  likely,  and  with 


258  HI  NJ  AM  IN   FRANKLIN. 

these,  towards  the  close  of  1700,  Temple 
Franklin  hurried  over  to  London.  He  was  just 
in  linio.  For  no  sooner  did  I  he  liuisson  edition 
COino  out  at  Paris  than  two  separate  transhi- 
tions  were  begun  at  London.  \\\  positive  as 
surances  that  lie  was  about  to  publish  (he  Au 
tobiography  complete,  the  translations  were  put, 
oil  Tor  two  years.  In  1793  both  were  placed  on 
the  market. 

One  bears  the  imprint  of  J.  Parsons,  is  a  lit 
eral  translation  of  llu'iNSon's  edition,  and  was 
done  by  a  man  as  ignorant  of  French  as  the 
French  translator  was  of  English.  Kranklin 
called  one  of  his  early  ballads  w>  The  Light 
house  Tragedy."  The  Frenchman  rendered 
this  tk  La  Tragedie  du  Phare  ; "  and  this,  in  the 
English  copy,  is  given  as  "  The  Tragedy  of 
Pharaoh."  \\'hat,  Franklin  called  aswimming- 
srhool  becomes  a  u  school  of  natation.""  His  ex 
pression  "Grub-street  ballad  style"  is  softened 
into  " blind  men's  ditties."  There  are  the  same 
blanks,  the  same  errors,  (ho  same  putting-in 
and  lea \  ing  out  of  words,  and  I  he  same  shorten 
ing  of  paragraphs,  as  in  the  French  edition. 
The  book  most,  happily  was  never  reprinted. 

The  reason  for  this  was  the  issue,  at  the 
same  lime,  of  a  far  better  translation  by  Frank 
lin's  old  friend  liicha.nl  Price.  This  was  made 
in  1791.  But  Price  soon  followed  Franklin  to 


THE  PRICE  EDITION  OF  1793.  259 

the  grave,  and  to  please  the  grandson  the  trans 
lation  was  held  back.  The  preface  declares 
that  the  basis  of  the  work  was  the  Paris  edi 
tion  of  1791.  A  letter  from  Price  asserts  that 
he  has  read  the  Autobiography  as  far  as  com 
plete,  and  the  character  of  the  book  shows  that 
he  had.  Now,  for  the  first  time,  the  missing 
dates  are  given,  the  errors  corrected,  and  the 
English  made  to  resemble  the  English  used  by 
Franklin.  But  the  Autobiography  ends  at  1731. 
It  is  safe,  therefore,  to  believe  that  Temple 
Franklin  had  recalled  the  copy  sent  to  Mr. 
Vaughan,  and  that  he  would  not  let  Dr.  Price 
see  it.  Certain  it  is  that  the  Doctor  found  him 
self  forced  to  patch  out  the  life  with  such  frag 
ments  of  biography  as  he  could  get,  and  that 
he  used  for  this  purpose  a  sketch  by  Henry 
Stuber,  of  Philadelphia. 

Stuber  was  a  young  man  of  great  promise. 
Before  he  was  sixteen  he  was  graduated  at  the 
University  of  Pennsylvania,  began  the  study 
of  medicine,  took  his  degree,  and  was  deep  in 
the  study  of  law  when  death  cut  short  his 
career.  Nor  were  his  friends  the  only  ones 
who  watched  him  with  interest.  The  public 
also  expected  much  from  him,  for  he  had  is 
sued  proposals  for  publishing  a  translation  of 
Shoepp's  "  Travels  in  America,"  a  work  that 
never  has  been,  but  richly  deserves  to  be,  trans- 


260  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

lated,  and  had  become  a  writer  for  the  "  Co 
lumbian  Magazine."  His  contribution  to  the 
Magazine  consisted  of  a  Life  of  Franklin,  in  the 
numbers  for  June,  July,  September,  October, 
November,  1790,  and  February,  March,  May, 
and  June,  1791.  The  performance  is  in  no  wise 
remarkable,  but  bears  strong  evidence  that 
Stuber  was  suffered  to  at  least  read  over  the 
copy  of  the  Autobiography  in  Temple  Frank 
lin's  keeping.  Many  of  the  statements  in  the 
Life  can  be  accounted  for  in  no  other  way. 

Up  to  this  time  only  so  much  of  the  Auto 
biography  had  been  made  public  as  Franklin 
wrote  at  Twyford  in  1771.  But  in  1798  a 
new  edition  was  issued  at  Paris,  with  much  of 
the  second  part  composed  in  1784  at  Passy. 
Even  this  encroachment  on  his  literary  prop 
erty  could  not  make  Temple  Franklin  bestir 
himself.  Indeed,  twenty  years  were  yet  to  go 
by  before  he  would  make  good  his  promise. 
Meantime  book-makers,  reviewers,  and  news 
paper  critics,  weary  of  delay,  began  to  abuse 
him.  To  these  men  his  conduct  was  perfectly 
clear.  He  had  sold  himself  to  the  British  gov 
ernment. 

These  charges  first  take  shape  in  the  early 
part  of  the  present  century,  in  the  "National 
Intelligencer,"  a  Jeffersonian  newspaper  pub 
lished  in  the  city  of  Washington.  The  editor 


TEMPLE  FRANKLIN  ACCUSED   OF  FRAUD.    261 

declared  that  the  public  were  tired  with  waiting 
for  the  appearance  of  Dr.  Franklin's  works  ; 
that  something  was  wrong ;  that  a  rumor  was 
current  that  the  papers  of  the  great  man  would 
never  be  published ;  and  called  on  his  descend 
ants  to  explain.  No  explanation  was  made, 
and  in  1804  the  "  National  Intelligencer  "  re 
peated  the  charge.  Silence,  he  declared,  had 
given  the  subject  increased  weight.  More  than 
eight  years  before,  Benjamin  Franklin  Bache 
had  often  declared  that  an  edition  was  surely 
coming  out  at  the  same  time  in  Europe  and 
America.  Why  had  it  not  come?  Some  said 
because  Mr.  Temple  Franklin  had  sold  his 
copyright  to  Dilby,  a  London  bookseller,  who 
in  turn  had  sold  it  for  a  greater  sum  to  the 
British  government,  in  order  that  the  papers 
might  be  suppressed. 

The  effect  of  this  was  to  bring  out  the  Duane 
edition.  Duane  was  owner  of  the  "Aurora," 
and  husband  to  the  widow  of  Benjamin  Frank 
lin  Bache,  and  had  thus  come  into  possession  of 
a  number  of  books  and  papers  Temple  Franklin 
had  not  secured.  These  he  determined  to  pub 
lish,  and  in  1805  announced  in  the  "  Aurora  " 
that  subscriptions  would  be  received  for  a  three- 
volume  edition  of  Dr.  Franklin's  works.  The 
publication  began  in  1808,  and  went  on  till 
1818,  when,  instead  of  three,  six  volumes  had 
been  issued. 


262  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

The  charge  of  fraud,  once  started,  crossed 
the  Atlantic,  and  next  appears  in  1806  in  the 
preface  to  a  three-volume  edition  of  Franklin's 
works,  edited  by  Benjamin  Vaughan  at  London. 
Vaughan  declares,  that  when  Temple  Franklin 
thought  his  labor  done,  he  offered  the  manu 
script  to  the  London  printers,  but  that  Ids  terms 
were  high,  that  the  printers  demurred,  and  that 
nothing  more  was  heard  of  the  offer.  "  The 
reason  was  plain.  The  proprietor,  it  seems, 
had  found  a  bidder  of  a  different  description 
in  some  emissary  of  government,  whose  object 
was  to  withhold  the  manuscripts  from  the 
world,  not  to  benefit  it  by  their  publication, 
and  they  either  passed  into  other  hands,  or  the 
person  to  whom  they  were  bequeathed  received 
a  remuneration  for  suppressing  them."  The 
preface  is  dated  April  7,  1806.  The  charge 
which  it  contains  was  sifted,  denied,  and  pro 
nounced  foolish  by  the  "  Edinburg  Review  "  for 
the  July  following.  But  it  had  meanwhile  re- 
crossed  the  Atlantic,  and  in  September,  1806, 
appeared  in  the  "  American  Citizen,"  a  news 
paper  published  by  James  Cheetham  at  New 
York. 

"  William  Temple  Franklin,"  says  the  writ 
er,  "  without  shame  and  without  remorse,  mean 
and  mercenary,  has  sold  the  sacred  deposit 
committed  to  his  care  by  Dr.  Franklin  to  the 


TEMPLE  FRANKLIN  ACCUSED   OF  FRAUD.    263 

British  government.  Franklin's  works  are  lost 
to  the  world  forever."  And  now  the  charge 
went  over  to  France,  and  was  taken  up  by 
"The  Argus,  or  London  Review,"  a  journal 
published  at  Paris,  March  28,  1807.  To  this, 
Temple  Franklin  had  the  folly  to  reply.  The 
editor  had  the  courtesy  to  declare  the  reply  a 
full  and  satisfactory  answer  to  the  slander, 
and  the  matter  stood  just  where  it  did  in  the 
beginning.  Men  went  on  asserting  and  believ 
ing  it,  and  it  was  as  late  as  1829  printed,  with 
a  vast  deal  more  of  similar  nonsense,  in  Jeffer 
son's  "  Anas." 

The  truth  seems  to  be  this :  Temple  Frank 
lin  did  the  best  he  could,  and  the  best  he  could 
do  was  worthless.  He  was  fussy,  he  was  slow, 
he  was  cursed  with  the  dreadful  curse  of  put 
ting  off.  What  the  duty  of  an  editor  was,  he 
never  knew.  His  time  was  squandered  in  sort 
ing,  arranging  and  rearranging,  reducing  here, 
adding  on  there,  cutting  a  piece  from  one  place 
to  paste  it  on  at  another,  till  the  manuscript 
was  a  mixture  of  paper,  paste,  and  pins;  till 
the  work  was  neither  his  own  nor  his  grand 
father's. 

When  he  could  stand  it  no  longer,  Colburn, 
the  publisher,  persuaded  Temple  Franklin  to 
have  a  clerk,  and  sent  him  as  such  a  man  who 
knew  something  of  editing.  Then  the  labor 


264  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

went  on  more  rapidly  till  a  new  trouble  arose. 
Colburn  would  risk  but  six  volumes.  There 
was  manuscript  enough  to  make  ten,  and 
Franklin  insisted  that  all  should  be  printed. 
It  was  finally  settled  that  six  should  be  issued, 
should  be  looked  on  as  the  first  installment,  and 
if  all  went  wrell  the  rest  should  follow.  Thus 
in  1817,  twenty-seven  years  after  Temple  be 
gan  his  labors,  the  first  genuine  edition  of  his 
grandfather's  writings  came  forth  from  the 
press.  The  six  octavo  volumes  were  issued 
from  1817  to  1819.  But  a  three-volume  quarto 
edition  appeared  in  1818. 

And  now  the  used  and  the  unused  papers  were 
cast  into  an  old  chest,  and  left  in  the  vaults  of 
the  banking  house  of  Herries,  Farquhar  &  Co., 
St.  James  Street,  London,  while  Franklin  went 
over  to  Paris.  There  he  lived,  married,  and 
died.  His  wife,  as  executrix,  administered  on 
his  estate,  and  on  September  23,  1823,  took  the 
trunk  from  the  vaults  of  the  banker,  and  for 
seventeen  years  the  Franklin  manuscripts  again 
were  lost  to  history.  Colburn  seemed  to  care 
nothing  about  them.  Sparks  was  unable  to 
find  them.  Nor  were  they  found  till  1840,  when 
they  were  discovered  done  up  in  loose  bundles 
on  the  top  shelf  of  a  tailor-shop  in  St.  James. 
The  shop  was  in  the  building  where  Temple 
Franklin  had  lodged.  The  finder  was  once  a 


TEE  FRANKLIN  PAPERS  AT  WASHINGTON.    265 

fellow-lodger,  and  by  right  of  discovery  now 
claimed  them  as  his  own.  Too  lazy  to  read 
them,  he  supposed  them  merely  the  originals 
of  what  was  already  in  print,  and  offered  them, 
as  such,  to  the  British  Museum,  to  Lord  Pal- 
merston,  to  a  long  succession  of  American  minis 
ters  to  England.  But  nobody  wanted  them  till 
Abbott  Lawrence  sent  him  to  Mr.  Henry  Ste 
vens,  who  bought  them  in  1851. 

Their  true  character  then  came  out.  Many 
indeed  had  been  printed.  But  among  them 
were  the  letter-books  and  manuscripts  once  be 
lieved  to  be  lost.  By  Mr.  Stevens  they  were 
sorted,  repaired,  arranged  ;  the  pins  were  taken 
out ;  the  pasted  pieces  were  soaked  apart,  the 
manuscripts  restored  to  the  state  in  which  Ben 
jamin  Franklin  left  them,  and,  bound  in  Bed 
ford's  best  manner,  they  were  in  1882  sold  to 
the  United  States  government  for  $35,000. 

To  describe  the  collection  is  impossible.  In 
it  are  the  Craven  Street  letter-book ;  the  Hart 
ley  correspondence ;  the  letters  concerning  the 
Hutchinson  Papers  ;  the  records  of  the  Ameri 
can  legation  at  Paris ;  the  correspondence  of  the 
commissioners  to  negotiate  for  peace ;  and  the 
original  manuscripts  of  the  essays,  squibs,  and 
bagatelles.  There,  too,  in  the  original,  is  the 
famous  letter  to  Strahan ;  the  petition  of  the 
Congress  of  1774  to  the  King ;  Franklin's 


266  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

"  Articles  of  Belief  and  Acts  of  Religion  ;"  and 
two  bagatelles  on  "  Perfumes,"  and  "  Choice  of 
a  Mistress,"  which  are  unhappily  too  indecent 
to  print.  The  manuscript  of  the  Autobiogra 
phy  is  not  there. 

The  tradition  runs  that  when  M.  le  Veillard 
lost  his  head  during  the  Reign  of  Terror,  the 
copy  given  to  him  by  Doctor  Franklin  passed 
to  his  widow;  that  Temple  Franklin  asked  it 
from  her,  that  she  demurred,  and  that  he  gave 
her  in  exchange  the  original  sheets  in  his  pos 
session.  Madame  le  Veillard  gave  them  in 
turn  to  her  daughter,  who  bequeathed  them  to 
her  cousin,  who  left  them  to  her  grandson,  who 
made  them  over  in  1867  to  Mr.  John  Bigelow, 
then  minister  from  the  United  States  to  France. 
Mr.  Bigelow  at  once  put  out  a  new  edition  of 
the  Autobiography,  and  the  world  knew  for  the 
first  time  that  what  it  had  for  fifty  years  been 
reading  as  the  Life  of  Franklin  was  garbled  and 
incomplete.  Temple  Franklin  traded  manu 
scripts  with  Madame  le  Veillard  that  he  might 
get  a  clean  copy  for  the  printer.  But  when  the 
clean  copy  which  he  published  is  compared  with 
the  unclean  copy  which  he  gave  away,  they  are 
found  to  be  very  different.  More  than  twelve 
hundred  separate  and  distinct  changes,  says  Mr. 
Bigelow,  have  been  made  in  the  text.  The  last 
eight  pages  of  the  manuscript  were  not  printed. 


CHANGES  IN  THE 

* 

As  to  the  nature  of  these  cha 
be  said.  They  are  usually  Temple  Franklin's 
Latin  words  for  Benjamin  Franklin's  Anglo- 
Saxon.  They  remind  us  of  the  language  of 
those  finished  writers  for  the  press  who  can 
never  call  a  fire  anything  but  a  conflagration, 
nor  a  crowd  anything  but  a  vast  concourse,  and 
who  dare  not  use  the  same  word  twice  on  the 
same  page.  Thus  it  is  that  in  the  Temple 
Franklin  edition  "notion"  has  become  "pre 
tence,"  that  "night  coming  on"  has  become 
"night  approaching,"  that  "a  very  large  one" 
has  become  "  a  considerable  one,"  that  "  treated 
me"  has  become  "received  me";  that  "got  a 
naughty  girl  with  child  "  has  become  "  had  an 
intrigue  with  a  girl  of  bad  character " ;  that 
"  very  oddly  "  has  been  turned  into  "  a  very  ex 
traordinary  manner."  But  the  changes  did  not 
stop  here.  The  coarseness  of  the  grandfather 
was  very  shocking  to  the  grandson,  and  "  guz 
zlers  of  beer "  is  made  "  drinkers  of  beer," 
"footed  it  to  London"  becomes  "walked  to 
London,"  "  Keimer  stared  like  a  pig  poisoned  " 
is  made  to  give  way  to  "  Keimer  stared  with 
astonishment." 

Such  changes  are  perhaps  of  small  account, 
yet  they  cannot  be  read  without  a  feeling  of 
contempt  for  the  man  who  made  them,  and  a 
feeling  of  thankfulness  to  the  man  who  pointed 


268  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

them  out.  That  an  editor  should  use  judgment 
in  the  choice  of  what  he  publishes,  is  true  ;  but 
that  he  should  have  the  face  to  change  one  word 
of  the  text  made  public,  is  something  that  can 
not  be  too  strongly  denounced.  Mr.  Stevens 
maintains  that  Franklin  wrote  everv  one  of  them 
with  his  own  hand.  It  is  out  of  the  question. 
It  is  impossible  to  believe  that  Franklin,  who 
formed  his  style  by  a  study  of  the  Spectator, 
ever  hesitated  to  use  plain  English.  Nor  would 
Mr.  Stevens  have  believed  it  had  he  been  owner 
of  the  Le  Veillard  manuscript. 

Whoever,  therefore,  would  read  the  Autobi 
ography  as  it  was  written  must  go  to  the  Bige- 
low  edition.  There,  too,  is  kept  the  original 
spelling.  The  work  richly  deserves  a  reading. 
Since  the  day  whereon  it  was  first  made  public, 
innumerable  books  written  by  our  countrymen 
have  come  into  fashion  and  gone  out  of  fashion 
and  all  but  disappeared.  Hardly  a  man  whose 
name  adorns  the  American  literature  of  the  first 
half  of  the  century  but  saw  his  books  pass 
through  a  period  of  neglect.  Irving  did,  and 
Cooper,  and  Halleck,  and  Willis,  and  Haw 
thorne,  and  many  more.  But  the  Autobiogra 
phy  of  Franklin  has  suffered  no  neglect.  With 
the  great  mass  of  our  people  it  has  always  been 
popular,  and  has  in  the  United  States  alone 
been  republished  fifty-one  times.  What  is  bet- 


THE  AUTOBIOGRAPHY.  269 

ter,  the  people  read  it.  Such  records  as  can 
be  had  from  public  libraries  all  over  the 
country  reveal  the  fact  that  the  book  is 
read  at  each  of  them  on  an  average  of  once 
a  month.  At  some,  where  the  humblest  and 
least  educated  come,  its  popularity  is  amaz 
ing.  Indeed,  at  the  Cooper  Union  Library 
in  New  York,  the  Autobiography,  during 
1885,  was  called  for  more  than  four  hundred 
times,  and  the  Life  by  Mr.  Parfcon  upwards  of 
one  thousand.  If  it  be  put  with  books  of 
its  kind,  and  judged  as  an  autobiography,  it 
is  beyond  doubt  the  very  best.  If  it  be  treated 
as  a  piece  of  writing  and  judged  as  literature, 
it  must  be  pronounced  the  equal  of  Robinson 
Crusoe,  one  of  the  few  everlasting  books  in  the 
English  language. 

In  the  Philadelphia  high  school,  a  part  of  it 
is  used  as  a  text-book.  Save  "  Poor  Richard," 
no  other  piece  of  Franklin's  is  so  widely  ad 
mired,  and  on  these  two  most  unquestionably 
rest  his  literary  fame. 

Of  the  pieces  which  make  his  collected  Works, 
there  is  little  to  be  said.  The  range  of  sub 
jects  is  wonderfully  wide.  They  abound  in 
hard  common  sense  and  wit.  The  style  is  de 
lightful,  and  the  language  good  plain  English. 
But  they  were  not  collected  and  arranged  by 
himself,  and  his  fame  has  suffered  accordingly. 


270  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

No  man,  unless  it  be  Thomas  Carlyle,  has 
ever  been  so  harshly  treated  by  editors  and 
biographers.  Acting  under  the  belief  that 
every  scrap  and  line  of  Franklin's  writing 
ought  to  be  kept,  they  have  been  most  dili 
gent  collectors. 

Buisson,  Doctor  Price,  and  the  compiler  of 
Robinson's  edition,  published  whatever  came  to 
hand.  Temple  Franklin  published  everything 
his  publisher  could  be  induced  to  take.  Sparks 
labored  hard  to  let  nothing  escape  him.  Edi 
tors  since  Sparks  have,  in  their  eagerness,  had 
the  face  to  ascribe  to  Franklin  pieces  Francis 
Hopkinson  is  well  known  to  have  written.  The 
result  is  a  collection  of  "  Essays,"  "  Notions," 
"  Remarks,"  "  Thoughts,"  "  Observations," 
"  Letters,"  no  human  being  will  now  read  un 
less  forced  to,  which  he  will  then  consider  a 
sore  trial,  and  which  cannot  be  called  by  any 
other  name  than  tiresome.  Franklin  reads  a 
pamphlet  on  impressing  seamen,  and  jots  down 
along  the  margin  a  few  remarks  in  pencil. 
They  were  never  intended  to  be  put  in  print. 
They  were  never  intended  to  be  seen  by  any 
one  save  himself.  They  were  perhaps  the  crude 
thoughts  of  the  moment,  and  may,  for  all  the 
reader  knows,  have  never  recurred  to  him  again. 
But  his  editor  spies  them,  and  thrusts  them 
into  his  collected  writings.  Yet  not  one  of 


THE   COLLECTED    WRITINGS.  271 

them  is  more  apt,  or  more  profound,  or  more 
sagacious,  than  could  be  made  by  any  well- 
educated  lad  of  twenty.  Some  notions  on 
trade  and  merchants,  some  thoughts  on  the 
Sugar  Islands,  some  reflections  on  coin,  are 
found  among  his  papers,  or  are  communi 
cated  in  a  letter  to  a  friend.  Not  one  of 
them  is  more  remarkable  than  may  be  heard 
any  day  in  a  street-car,  or  read  any  morning 
on  the  editorial  page  of  a  newspaper.  Yet 
these,  too  are  given  a  place  in  the  collected 
writings. 

With  all  this  diligence,  however,  the  editors 
have  suffered  some  of  his  best  pieces  to  escape 
them.  No  one  has  gathered  the  Dogood  Papers, 
nor  the  sketches  written  for  the  Courant,  nor  the 
essays  in  the  Pennsylvania  Gazette,  nor  the 
Prefaces  and  Prognostications  of  Poor  Richard. 
Mr.  Parton  and  Mr.  Bigelow  alone  have  re 
printed  Polly  Baker's  Speech.  It  is  to  be  hoped 
that  some  day,  not  far  in  the  future,  this  will 
be  corrected,  and  that  to  the  fifty  editions  of  his 
works  in  English  will  be  added  one  more  con 
taining  such  of  his  writings  as  give  him  a  place 
in  the  goodly  company  of  American  men  of 
letters.  Out  of  such  a  collection  will  be  left 
the  notes  which  he  jotted  down  on  the  margins 
of  his  pamphlets ;  the  books  and  pamphlets 
he  distinctly  declares  he  did  not  write;  all 


272  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

his  pieces  on  political  economy ;  everything 
written  to  affect  public  opinion,  and  which,  to 
be  understood,  must  now  be  annotated  and  ex 
plained.  In  that  collection  will  surely  be 
found  the  Speech  of  Miss  Polly  Baker  before 
a  Court  of  Judicature  in  New  England  ;  The 
Witch  Trial  at  Mount  Holly  ;  Advice  to  a 
Young  Tradesman  ;  Father  Abraham's  Speech  ; 
Remarks  concerning  the  Savages  of  North 
America ;  the  Dialogue  with  the  Gout ;  The 
Ephemera ;  the  Petition  of  the  Left  Hand ; 
the  pretended  chapter  from  Martin's  Account 
of  his  Consulship ;  a  few  of  the  best  essays 
from  the  Gazette  ;  the  prefaces  from  the 
Almanac ;  the  Parables  ;  the  Whistle,  and  the 
Autobiography. 

And  yet,  when  this  is  done,  the  place  to  be 
allotted  Franklin  among  American  men  of 
letters  is  hard  to  determine.  He  founded  no 
school  of  literature.  He  gave  no  impetus  to 
letters.  He  put  his  name  to  no  great  work 
of  history,  of  poetry,  of  fiction.  Till  after  his 
day,  no  such  thing  as  American  literature  ex 
isted.  To  place  him,  with  respect  to  Irving, 
Bryant,  Cooper,  Prescott,  and  the  host  of 
great  men  that  came  after  him,  is  impossible. 
There  is  no  common  ground  of  comparison. 
Unlike  them,  he  never  wrote  for  literary  fame. 
Had  he  cared  for  such  fame,  he  would  not  have 


HIS  PLACE  IN  LITERATURE.  273 

permitted  friends  and  strangers  to  gather  and 
edit  his  writings  during  his  lifetime  ;  he  would 
not  have  suffered  death  to  overtake  him  when 
the  Autobiography  was  but  half  done ;  he 
would  not  have  made  it  an  invariable  rule 
to  never  send  anything  to  the  press  over  his 
own  name.  His  place  is  among  that  giant 
race  of  pamphleteers  and  essayists  most  of 
whom  went  before,  but  a  few  of  whom  came 
immediately  after,  the  war  for  independence. 
And  among  them  he  is  easily  first.  Their 
merit  lies  in  what  they  said:  the  merit  of 
Franklin  lies  not  only  in  what  he  said,  but  in 
the  way  in  which  he  said  it. 

In  his  youth  he  was  an  imitator  of  Addison, 
and  of  all  the  countless  host  of  imitators  he  is 
nearest  the  master.  His  wit  is  as  keen,  his 
humor  is  as  gentle,  his  fancy  is  as  light  and 
playful,  his  style  is  sometimes  better.  Addison 
has  drawn  no  characters  more  lifelike  than 
Alice  Addertongue,  and  Anthony  Af  terwit,  and 
Celia  Single,  and  Patience  Teacroft.  Richard 
Saunders  and  his  wife  Bridget,  and  the  "  clean 
old  man,"  Father  Abraham,  are  as  well  done  as 
the  "  Spectator."  To  compare  any  of  these,  save 
"  Poor  Richard,"  with  the  short-faced  gentleman 
and  his  friend,  Sir  Roger  and  Will  Wimble, 
would  be  unjust  to  Franklin.  But  when  they 
are  compared  with  Will  Serene  and  Ralph 


274  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

Simple,  and  Mary  Tuesday  and  Will  Fashion, 
or  any  sketched  and  dismissed  in  a  single  paper, 
it  must  be  allowed  that  in  Franklin  the  illus 
trious  Englishman  has  his  match. 

It  should  seem,  therefore,  that  the  essays  of 
Franklin  should  be  as  well  known.  That  they 
are  not  is  due  to  the  fact  that  they  are  so  few 
in  number,  and  that  they  were  never  collected 
till  the  reading  public  had  begun  to  outgrow 
the  taste  for  such  writings,  and  when  it  would 
have  been  hard  even  for  Addison  to  have  made 
much  of  a  reputation  by  the  "  Spectator."  That 
they  are  so  few  is  to  be  ascribed  to  his  versa 
tility  and  his  sloth.  He  could  do  so  many 
things  that  to  do  one  thing  long  was  impossi 
ble.  A  pamphlet  that  could  be  written  in  the 
heat  of  the  moment ;  a  little  essay  or  a  baga 
telle  that  could  be  finished  at  one  sitting,  and 
trimmed  and  polished  at  a  couple  more,  was 
about  all  he  had  the  patience  and  the  industry 
to  accomplish.  He  finished  nothing.  Neither 
vanity  nor  persuasion  could  make  him  complete 
the  Autobiography.  The  Dogood  Papers  he 
dropped  as  suddenly  as  they  began.  The 
"  Busybody"  he  abandoned  to  his  friend  Breint- 
nal.  Then  he  set  up  a  printing-house,  a  news 
paper,  and  an  almanac,  and  created  Mr.  Rich 
ard  Saunders.  But  he  soon  grew  weary  of 
"  Poor  Richard,"  and  dropped  him  ;  grew  tired 


HIS   VERSATILITY.  275 

of  business,  and  though  the  printing-house  was 
immensely  profitable,  sold  it  that  time  might 
be  had  for  the  study  of  electricity.  From  elec 
tricity  he  was  drawn  off  to  politics,  and  from 
politics  went  back  to  electricity,  made  discov 
eries  and  wrote  essays  so  important  that  lie 
became  world-famous;  that  the  Royal  Society 
elected  him  to  membership  ;  that  the  University 
of  St.  Andrews  bestowed  on  him  the  title  of 
Doctor,  by  which  he  has  ever  since  been  known. 
Success  so  marked,  it  should  seem,  would  have 
kept  him  faithful  to  his  studies  of  science.  But 
he  was  soon  again  deep  in  politics,  was  held 
there  for  years  by  circumstances  he  could  not 
control,  and  made  for  himself  so  great  a  name 
as  a  diplomatist  and  politician,  that  as  such  he 
is  now  chiefly  remembered.  During  these 
years  he  still  continued  to  write,  and  produced 
a  mass  of  political  literature,  effective  in  its 
day  but  now  forgotten. 

These  writings  have  none  of  the  cool  reason 
ing  of  the  "  Farmer's  Letters  "  ;  none  of  the 
stirring  appeals  of  "  Common  Sense  "  and  the 
"  Crisis."  Their  characteristics  are  brevity 
and  humor.  Grave  as  the  quarrel  was,  he 
looked  upon  it  as  he  looked  upon  the  small 
bickerings  and  petty  acts  of  tyranny  of 
neighbors  and  townsmen,  and,  as  a  humorist, 
held  up  the  folly  and  injustice  of  England's 


276  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

behavior  to  laughter  and  to  scorn.  Nothing, 
perhaps,  so  finely  illustrates  this  tendency  to 
be  at  all  times  the  laughing  philosopher,  as  his 
draught  of  an  address  to  be  put  forth  by  Wash 
ington  on  taking  command  of  the  army. 

The  alliance  made  and  the  treaty  signed,  he 
once  more  went  back  to  general  essay  writing, 
and  to  the  end  of  his  life  continued  to  produce 
pieces  with  the  old  traits  of  brevity  and  wit.  If 
the  writings  of  his  youth  were  Addisonian, 
those  of  his  old  age  were  thoroughly  French. 
When  his  mind  was  racked  with  the  "  Specta 
tor,"  he  wrote  "  Silence  Dogood,"  and  the 
"  Busybody,"  and  "  Patience  Teacroft."  When 
he  had  lived  some  years  at  Passy,  he  wrote  the 
"  Bagatelles."  Even  among  them  there  is  a 
choice;  yet  they  all  have  the  brightness,  the 
spirit  and  vivacity,  of  the  best  French  writing 
of  that  day.  His  last  piece,  the  speech  in  the 
"  Divorce  of  Algiers,"  is  not  surpassed  by  any 
of  the  pleasantries  of  Arbuthnot  or  Swift. 

Except  the  Bagatelles,  which  he  wrote  in  his 
old  age  for  the  amusement  of  his  friends,  he 
produced  little  which  did  not  serve  an  imme 
diate  and  practical  purpose,  and  which  was  not 
expressed  in  the  plainest  and  clearest  English. 
A  metaphor,  a  simile,  a  figure  of  speech  of  any 
kind,  is  rarely  to  be  met  with.  The  character 
istics  of  his  writings  are,  short  sentences  made 


ma  PHILOSOPHY.  277 

up  of  short  words,  great  brevity,  great  clear 
ness,  great  force,  good-humor,  apt  stories, 
pointed  allusions,  hard  common  sense,  and  a 
wonderful  show  of  knowledge  of  the  practical 
art  of  living.  Knowledge  of  life  he  had  in  the 
highest  degree.  He  knew  the  world  ;  he  knew 
men  and  the  ways  of  men  as  few  have  known 
them.  His  remarks  on  political  economy,  on 
general  politics,  on  morality,  are  often  rash  and 
sometimes  foolish.  But  whatever  he  has  said 
on  domestic  economy,  or  thrift,  is  sound  and 
striking.  No  other  writer  has  left  so  many  just 
and  original  observations  on  success  in  life.  No 
other  writer  has  pointed  out  so  clearly  the  way 
to  obtain  the  greatest  amount  of  comfort  out  of 
life.  What  Solomon  did  for  the  spiritual  man 
that  did  Franklin  for  the  earthly  man.  The 
Book  of  Proverbs  is  a  collection  of  receipts  for 
laying  up  treasure  in  heaven.  "  Poor  Richard  " 
is  a  collection  of  receipts  for  laying  up  trea 
sure  on  earth. 

His  philosophy  was  the  philosophy  of  the 
useful, —  the  philosophy  whose  aim  it  is  to  in 
crease  the  power,  to  ameliorate  the  condition, 
to  supply  the  vulgar  wants,  of  mankind.  It 
was  for  them  that  he  started  libraries ;  that  he 
founded  schools  and  hospitals  ;  that  he  invented 
stoves;  that  he  discovered  a  cure  for  smoky 
chimneys ;  that  he  put  up  lightning-rods  ;  that 


8  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

he  improved  the  post-office  ;  that  he  introduced 
the  basket-willow ;  that  he  first  made  known 
the  merits  of  plaster-of-paris  as  a  manure ; 
that  he  wrote  "  Poor  Richard  "  ;  that  he  drew 
up  the  Albany  Plan  of  Union. 

For  this  it  is  now  the  fashion  to  reproach 
him  as  the  teacher  of  a  candle-end-saving 
philosophy  in  which  morality  has  no  place. 
The  reproach,  if  it  be  one,  is  just.  Morality 
he  never  taught,  and  he  was  not  fit  to  teach 
it.  Nothing  in  his  whole  career  is  more  to 
be  lamented  than  that  a  man  of  parts  so  great 
should,  long  after  he  had  passed  middle  life, 
continue  to  write  pieces  so  filthy  that  no  editor 
has  ever  had  the  hardihood  to  print  them. 
The  substance  of  all  he  ever  wrote  is,  Be 
honest,  be  truthful,  be  diligent  in  your  calling ; 
not  because  of  the  injunctions  "  Thou  shalt  not 
steal,  thou  shalt  not  bear  false  witness  against 
thy  neighbor ;  "  but  because  honesty  is  the 
best  policy ;  because  in  the  long  run  idle 
ness,  knavery,  wastefulness,  lying,  and  fraud 
do  not  pay.  Get  rich,  make  money,  as  a 
matter  of  policy,  if  nothing  more,  because, 
as  Poor  Richard  says,  it  is  hard  for  an  empty 
sack  to  stand  upright. 

Low  as  such  a  motive  may  seem  from  a 
moral  standpoint,  it  is,  from  a  worldly  stand 
point,  sound  and  good.  Every  man  whose  life 


HIS  ORTHOGRAPHY.  279 

the  world  calls  successful  has  been  actuated 
by  it,  and  Franklin  is  no  exception.  What 
he  taught  he  practiced.  His  life  is  a  splendid 
illustration  of  what  may  be  done  by  a  never- 
flagging  adherence  to  the  maxims  of  Poor 
Richard. 

The  language  in  which  he  put  his  thoughts 
was  plain  and  vigorous  English.  This  is  all 
the  more  praiseworthy  as  most  American 
writers  of  his  day  used  a  vicious  Johnsonese. 
But  he  spelled  English  as  if  it  were  his, 
and  not  the  king's.  In  all  his  manuscripts, 
"through"  is  "thro',"  "surf"  is  "  surff," 
"job"  is  "jobb,"  "extreme"  is  "extream." 
Sometimes  such  words  as  "  public,"  "  panic," 
"  music,"  end  with  a  Jc  and  sometimes  they  do 
not.  As  might  be  expected  of  a  man  self- 
educated  and  so  practical,  he  firmly  believed  in 
phonetic  spelling,  made  a  system  of  his  own, 
and  invented  a  quantity  of  hieroglyphics  that 
look  very  much  like  bastard  type,  to  represent 
his  peculiar  alphabet.  In  it  he  had  neither  <?, 
nor  q,  nor  #,  nor  /,  nor  w ;  no  letter  which  did 
not  stand  for  a  distinct  sound,  and  no  distinct 
sound  which  did  not  have  a  letter.  To  his 
reformed  spelling  he  made  but  one  convert,  and 
she,  by  dint  of  much  labor,  learned  to  read  it 
with  some  fluency  and  write  it  with  some  ease. 
Towards  the  end  of  his  days  he  was  himself 
converted  to  a  like  system  of  Noah  Webster. 


280  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

When  we  turn  from  Franklin's  labored  pieces 
to  his  letters,  we  find  that  they,  too,  are  worthy 
of  notice.  They  abound  in  worldly  wisdom, 
in  shrewd  observations,  in  good-humor,  good 
stories,  good  sense,  all  set  forth  in  plain  Eng 
lish  and  in  an  easy,  flowing  style.  In  them  is 
displayed  to  perfection  the  independence  of 
thought,  the  sagacity,  the  direct  and  simple 
reasoning,  the  happy  faculty  of  illustration 
by  homely  objects  and  parallel  cases;  that  in 
vincible  self-control  which  neither  obstinacy, 
nor  stupidity,  nor  duplicity,  nor  wearisome 
delay  could  ever  break  down ;  and,  what  is 
better  than  all,  the  fearless  truthfulness  so 
characteristic  of  the  man.  Where  all  are 
good,  to  choose  is  hard.  But  it  is  idle  to  ex 
pect  that  the  readers  of  our  time  will  peruse 
the  stout  volumes  into  which  Mr.  Sparks  has 
gathered  a  part  of  them.  It  may  therefore  be 
well  to  name  a  few  which  may  be  taken  as 
samples  of  all,  and  these  few  are :  the  letter  on 
the  habits  and  treatment  of  the  aged  ;  that  on 
early  marriages ;  the  account  of  his  journey  to 
Paris  ;  the  three  on  the  Wilkes  mob  in  Lon 
don  ;  the  moral  algebra ;  that  containing  the 
apologue  on  the  conduct  of  men  toward  each 
other ;  that  on  the  art  of  producing  pleasant 
dreams ;  that  on  the  Cincinnati ;  that  to  Mr. 
Percival  on  dueling;  to  his  daughter  on  ex- 


HIS  EMINENCE.  281 

travagance;  to  Mason  Weems  on  the  ordina 
tion  of  American  Protestant  Episcopal  clergy 
men;  and  that  to  Samuel  Mather.  To  these 
should  be  added  the  two  letters  on  how  to 
do  the  most  good  with  a  little  money,  because 
of  the  sound  advice  they  contain  and  the  excel 
lent  practice  they  recommend. 

To  say  that  his  life  is  the  most  interesting, 
the  most  uniformly  successful,  yet  lived  by  any 
American,  is  bold.  But  it  is  nevertheless 
strictly  true.  Not  the  least  of  the  many 
glories  of  our  country  is  the  long  list  of  men 
who,  friendless,  half-educated,  poor,  have,  by 
the  sheer  force  of  their  own  abilities,  raised 
themselves  from  the  humblest  beginnings  to 
places  of  eminence  and  command.  Many  of 
these  have  surpassed  him.  Some  have  specu 
lated  more  deeply  on  finance,  have  been  more 
successful  as  philanthropists,  have  made  greater 
discoveries  in  physics,  have  written  books  more 
commonly  read  than  his.  Yet  not  one  of  them 
has  attained  to  greatness  in  so  many  ways,  or 
has  made  so  lasting  an  impression  on  his  coun 
trymen.  His  face  is  as  well  known  as  the  face  of 
Washington,  and,  save  that  of  Washington,  is 
the  only  one  of  his  time  that  is  now  instantly 
recognized  by  the  great  mass  of  his  country 
men.  His  maxims  are  in  every  man's  mouth. 
His  name  is,  all  over  the  country,  bestowed  on 


282  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

counties  and  towns,  on  streets,  on  societies,  on 
corporations.  .  The  stove,  the  lightning-rod,  and 
the  kite,  the  papers  on  the  gulf  stream,  and  on 
electricity,  give  him  no  mean  claims  to  be 
considered  a  man  of  science.  In  diplomacy  his 
name  is  bound  up  with  many  of  the  most 
famous  documents  in  our  history.  He  drew  the 
Albany  Plan  of  Union.  He  sent  over  the 
Hutchinson  Letters.  He  is  the  only  man  who 
wrote  his  name  alike  at  the  foot  of  the  Declara 
tion  of  Independence,  at  the  foot  of  the  Treaty 
of  Alliance,  at  the  foot  of  the  Treaty  of  Peace, 
and  at  the  foot  of  the  Constitution  under 
which  we  live.  Nor  is  he  less  entitled  to  dis 
tinction  in  the  domain  of  letters,  for  he  has  pro 
duced  two  works  which  of  their  kind  have  not 
yet  been  surpassed.  One  is  "  Father  Abra 
ham's  Speech  to  the  People  at  the  Auction." 
The  other  is  "  The  Autobiography  of  Benjamin 
Franklin." 


INDEX. 


ABRAHAM'S  ADDBESS,  Father,  114- 
126.  Popularity  of,  127-129.  In 
French,  128,  221,  224. 

Academy  and  Charitable  School, 
135, 149-152.  Becomes  University 
of  Pa.,  152. 

"  Account  of  the  Supremest  Court, 
etc.,  in  Pa.,"  246,  247. 

Adams,  John,  210.  Sketch  of  life 
at  Passy,  227.  Sent  out  in  place 
of  Deane,  281.  Reception  at  Bor 
deaux,  231,  232. 

Adams,  Abigail :  sketch  of  Mme. 
Helvetius,  234, 235. 

Addison,  19,  24. 

"  Address  to  the  Freeholders,"  180. 

"  Address  to  the  Public,"  etc.,  246. 

Advertiser,  The  Public  (London), 
Franklin's  writings  in,  203-206. 

Afterwit,  Anthony,  77. 

Albany.  Colonies  bidden  to  send 
delegates  to  a  conference  at,  161 . 
Franklin's  Plan  of  Union  at,  162. 
Failure  of  the  Plan,  163. 

Alliance,  The  French,  231. 

Allouez,  160. 

Almanacs :  Kalendarium  Pennsilva- 
niense,  37,  38.  Value  of,  97,  98. 
Early  almanacs  in  Phila.,  99,  100. 
Character  of,  100-101.  "Poor 
Richard,"  102-129. 

American  cause,  popularity  of,  in 
France,  223,  224,  230,  231. 

"American  Citizen,"  252-263. 

"American  Magazine,"  129-135. 

Andrews,  Jedidiah,  79,  80. 

Anecdotes  of  Franklin:  "Tar  Bar 
rel,"  "Other  Grain,"  140.  The 
Fire  Engine,  147. 

"  Answer  to  Mr.  Franklin's  Re 
marks,"  187. 

"  Argus."  Charges  against  Temple 
Franklin,  263. 

"  Art  of  Virtue,"  172. 


Assembly  of  Pennsylvania:  Gov 
ernor  asks  it  to  arm  the  province, 
137.  Reply  of  the  assembly,  138. 
Action  after  the  capture  of  Louis- 
burg,  140.  Action  after  outrages 
by  the  privateers,  141,  142.  Sends 
Franklin  to  an  Indian  conference 
at  Carlisle,  157.  Sends  him  to 
Braddock,  163.  Thanks  Franklin, 
164.  Quarrels  with  the  proprie 
tary  family,  165.  Sends  a  remon 
strance  to  the  King,  167.  Cen 
sures  the  proprietary  family,  180. 
Debate  on  reassembling,  181.  Ad 
dress  voted,  Norris  will  not  sign, 

181.  Franklin    chosen    speaker, 

182.  Election  for,  184, 188.  Frank 
lin  defeated,   185,   186.     Chooses 
Franklin  agent,  187. 

Association  for  defense  of  Philadel 
phia,  144-148. 

Atkins,  Samuel,  37,  38,  39. 

Autobiography,  Franklin's:  Begins 
to  write  it,  251,  252.  Manuscript 
lost  and  found,  252,  253.  Contin 
ued,  253.  Part  of  it  published  at 
Paris,  254-256.  English  editions, 
258,  259.  The  Life  by  Stuber,  259, 
260.  Temple  Franklin  trades  the 
original  manuscript,  266.  Recov 
ered  by  Mr.  Bigelow,  266,  267. 
Value  of,  268.  Popularity  of,  269, 
270. 

Bache,  Richard  :  Deputy  U.  S.  post 
master  -  general,  158.  Marries 
Sarah  Franklin,  215. 

Bache,  B.  F.,  215,  238. 

Bagatelles,  236-238. 

Ballads:  Popularity  of,  17,  18. 
Franklin's,  14,  18. 

Baker,  Miss  Polly,  Speech,  272. 

"  Banks  "  of  paper  money,  57-59. 

Battery,  The  Association,  146-148. 


284 


INDEX. 


Bath,  Earl  of,  171. 

Bellamy,  the  pirate,  15. 

Bethlehem,  164.  Moravian  Indians 
at,  173. 

Bible :  Franklin's  paraphrase  of 
David's  Lamentation,  85,  86.  Of 
a  chapter  of  Job,  87-89.  The  par 
able  against  persecution,  90,  91. 
"  Parable  on  Brotherly  Love,"  91, 
92. 

Biddle,  James,  195. 

Bigelow,  John  :  Edits  the  Autobiog 
raphy,  266,  267. 

Biloxi,  160. 

"Blackboard,"  the  pirate,  16,17. 
Franklin's  ballad  on,  14. 

"  Body  of  Divinity,"  Willard's,  5. 

"  Bonhomme  Richard,"  221.  Used 
in  the  schools,  224. 

Books  :  In  library  of  Josiah  Frank 
lin,  5.  In  Boston  Public  Library, 
6.  In  Harvard  Library,  7.  Number 
printed,  1706-1719,  8.  Franklin's 
efforts  to  get,  18, 19.  Books  read 
by  him,  19,  20. 

Book  of  Common  Prayer :  Sir  F. 
Dashwood's  abridgment,  92. 
Franklin  contributes  to,  92. 

Bordeaux,  reception  of  Adams  at, 
231,  232. 

Boston  :  Description  of  1706,  2,  3. 
Benjamin  Franklin  born  at,  3. 
Library  at,  6,  7.  Pilgrim's  Prog 
ress  printed  at,  8.  "Publick 
Occurrences  "  published  at,  11. 
"  The  News  Letter,"  12, 13.  "  Bos 
ton  Gazette  "  started,  13.  "  New 
England  Courant"  begun,  21. 
Cotton  Mather  introduces  inocu 
lation,  22.  Is  abused,  22,  23. 
"  Courant  "  persecuted,  27-29. 
James  Franklin  forbidden  to  print, 
29.  Benjamin  Franklin  leaves  Bos 
ton,  33.  "Votes  and  Proceedings," 
etc,  preface  by  Franklin,  205, 206. 

Braddock,  Edmund,  163,  164. 

Bradford,  William,  Franklin  applies 
to,  for  work,  33.  First  printer  in 
the  Middle  Colonies,  36.  Sketch 
of,  37.  His  struggle  for  liberty  of 
the  press,  37-39. 

Bradford,  Andrew,  39.  Asked  to 
print  Sewel's  History  of  the 
Quakers,  46.  His  "  Weekly  Mer 
cury,"  47.  Starts  American  Mag 
azine,  129-135. 

Brebceuf,  160. 

Breintnal,  Joseph,  53. 

"Brisf  State  of  the  Province  of 
Pa,"  180. 


Brillon,  Madame,  233. 

Brownell,  George,  3,  4. 

Buckner,  John,  seta  up  a  press  in 
Va.,  37. 

Bucks  County  (Pa.),  petition  the 
assembly  for  paper  currency,  59. 

Buffon,  Count  de,  156. 

Buisson,  publishes  the  Autobiog 
raphy,  254,  255. 

Burke,  William,  171. 

Burlington,  34,  35. 

Burton's  "Historical  Collections,"  8. 

"  Busybody  "  papers  ,49-53. 

Ca  Ira,  222. 

Campbell,  John,  12.  First  news 
paper  reporter,  14. 

Canada :  Early  struggle  for,  55,  56, 
57.  Capture  of  Louisburg,  140. 
Question  of  surrendering  Canada, 
168-171. 

Capefigue's  estimate  of  Franklin, 
223. 

"Captivity  among  the  Indians," 
Mary  Rowlandson's,  8. 

Carey,  Matthew,  242. 

Caricatures  of  Franklin,  183,  184, 
195. 

Carlisle,  173. 

Carmichael,  William,  232. 

Catechism,  Franklin's  abridgment, 
92. 

Cave,  E.,  155. 

Censorship  of  the  Press  in  Massa 
chusetts,  27-30.  In  Pennsylva 
nia,  38,  39. 

Chester  County  (Pa.),  petition  for 
more  shillings  on  the  dollar,  etc., 
58. 

"  Choice  of  a  Mistress,"  266. 

Churches :  The  Old  South,  2.  "  Our 
Lady  of  Victory,"  56.  "Old 
Button  wood,"  79. 

Clericus,  26. 

"  Club  for  the  Propagation  of  Sense 
and  Good  Manners,"  30-32. 

Colonies:  State  of,  in  1706,  1-3. 
Printing  in,  7,  8.  Literature,  8. 
Newspapers,  11-13.  Pirates,  14- 
18.  Liberty  of  the  Press,  26-29. 
Almanacs  in,  37, 38,  97-100.  Wars 
of,  55-57.  Issue  paper  money, 
56-60. 

"  Collection  of  English  Proverbs," 
•Ray's,  Franklin  borrows  from, 
112,  note. 

Collison,  Peter,  155. 

"  Comparison  of  Great  Britain  and 
America,"  225. 


INDEX. 


285 


Conestoga  Indiana  :  On  the  Manor, 
173.  Massacre  of,  174,  175. 

Congress:  Franklin  delivers  their 
Declaration  of  Rights,  214.  Frank 
lin  a  member  of,  216,217.  Send 
Franklin  to  France,  217,  218-220. 
Send  Adams  out  and  recall  Deane, 
231.  Appoint  Franklin  sole  min 
ister,  232.  Accept  his  resigna 
tion,  240. 

Connecticut,  issues  paper  bills,  57. 

Constables  in  old  times,  83. 

Constitutions  of  the  States  :  Trans 
lated  by  Dubourg,  224.  Forbid 
den  to  be  published,  230.  French 
estimate  of,  224. 

Conyngham,  G-ustavus,  229-239. 

"Cool  Thoughts,"  180,181. 

Copley  medal  given  to  Franklin, 
156. 

Courant,  The  New  England  :  Start 
ed  by  James  Franklin,  21.  Char 
acter  of,  23.  Articles  contributed 
by  Franklin,  23-26.  Notice  of 
pirates  off  Block  Island,  26,27. 
Editor  of,  in  jail,  27,  28.  Remarks 
on  the  conduct  of  Governor 
Shute,  28,29.  Franklin  forbid 
den  to  print,  29.  Benjamin 
Franklin  becomes  printer,  30. 
Dr.  Janus,  30-32. 

Coxe,  D.  His  plan  of  union  for  the 
colonies  borrowed  by  Franklin, 
162  163. 


Crequi,  Marquise  de,  223. 
Credit  bills  in 
64. 


the  colonies,  55,  57- 


Crown  Point,  161,  164. 

Cuba,  call  for  volunteers  to  plun 

der,  138,  139. 
Gushing,  Thomas,  210. 

Dalibard,  draws  electricity  from  the 

clouds,  156. 
Dashwood,    Sir    Francis,    abridges 

the  Book  of  Common  Player,  92. 
David,    paraphrased    by    Franklin, 

86. 

Deane,  Silas,  219,  229,  230,  231. 
Declaration  of  Rights,  214. 
Denman,  befriends  Franklin,  44. 
D'Estaing,  231. 
Defense  of  Printers,  75,  76. 
De  Foe  :  Keimer  publishes  his  Re 

ligious  Courtship,  48. 
Delaware,   outrages    on    the  river, 

140,  141,  142. 
De  Lor,  156. 
Dialogues    between    Philocles    and 

Horatius,  78.     Between  Socrates 


and  Critico,  78.  Socrates  and 
Glaucon,  78. 

Dialogue  between  X,  Y,  and  Z, 
165. 

Dialogue  between  two  Presbyte 
rians,  78. 

Dialogue  between  Britain,  France, 
etc.,  225. 

Dialogue  between  Franklin  and  the 
Gout,  236. 

Dickinson,  John,  181.  His  speech, 
182.  Called  "  The  Maybe,"  182. 
Tries  to  defeat  Franklin,  186, 187. 

Dictionary  :  Publication  of  Cham- 
bers's,  begun  in  Keimer's  news 
paper,  48.  Ended,  65. 

Dogood,  Silence,  Essays  of,  23-26. 

Dollar,  Spanish,  petition  to  increase 
number  of  shillings  in,  58, 59. 

Donegal,  174. 

"  Drinkers'  Dictionary,"  78. 

Duane,  William,  edits  Franklin's 
works,  261. 

Dubourg,  Barbeu,  translates  Frank 
lin's  electrical  writings,  156. 
Meets  Franklin,  207.  Translates 
his  writings,  207.  Difficulty  of, 
207,  208.  Letter  to  Franklin,  219. 
Translates  the  State  Constitu 
tions,  224.  Forbidden  to  publish, 
230. 

Duel,  relative  to  Hutchinson  Let 
ters,  211. 

Easton,  1'64. 

Economists,  The,  206. 

"Edict  of  the  King  of  Prussia," 
204,205. 

Edinburg  Review,  charges  against 
J.  Franklin,  262. 

Education :  Franklin's  proposals  re 
garding,  135,  149.  His  scheme, 
149-151.  Founds  the  Philadel 
phia  Academy,  151.  His  "  Idea 
of  an  English  School,"  151,  152. 

Education  of  Franklin,  3-9,  18-21. 

Election,  An  old  time,  184-186. 

Electricity,  "  New  Experiments  and 
Observations  in,"  155,  156. 
Franklin's  experiments  repeated 
in  France,  156.  The  kite,  156. 

"  Ephemera,  The,"  236,  237. 

Epictetus :  first  translation  in  Amer 
ica,  94. 

"  Essay  to  do  Good,"  Mather's,  5. 

"  Essays  on  Projects,"  De  Foe,  5. 

Essays  of  Franklin  in  the  Courant, 
23-25.  In  the  Mercury,  49-53, 117. 
In  the  Pa.  Gazette.  In  London 
journals. 


286 


INDEX. 


"  Farmer's  Letters,"  Franklin's 
preface  to,  206. 

"  Family  of  the  Boxes,"  78. 

Fires  :  Method  of  extinguishing,  84. 
Franklin's  attempt  at  reform,  85. 

Fire  companies,  85.  Action  for 
defense  of  Philadelphia,  146, 147. 

Fleet,  Thomas,  Boston  publisher, 
18. 

Folger,  Abiah,  3. 

Forts,  the  French  chain  of,  161. 

Franklin,  Abiah,  3. 

Franklin,  Benjamin:  Baptized  in 
Old  South  Church,  2.  Name  of 
parents,  3.  Date  of  birth,  3. 
Education,  3.  Taste  for  the  sea, 
4.  Early  reading,  5,  6.  Buys 
Pilgrim's  Progress,  8.  Appren 
ticed  to  his  brother,  11.  Writes 
ballads,  14.  Sent  to  hawk  them, 
18.  Efforts  to  get  books,  18,  19. 
Studies  the  "  Spectator,"  20-21. 
Writes  Dogood  Papers,  23,  24,  25. 
His  indenture  cancelled,  30.  Edits 
the  Courant,  30.  His  fiction  of 
Dr.  Janus,  30,  31.  Quarrels  with 
his  brother,  32,  33.  Leaves  Bos 
ton.  33.  Seeks  work  of  W.  Brad 
ford,  33.  Walks  across  New  Jer 
sey,  34,  35.  Reaches  Philadel 
phia,  35.  Finds  work,  39.  Re 
turns  home,  39.  Sent  to  London 
by  Keimer,  40.  Becomes  journey 
man  printer,  40.  His  Disserta 
tion  on  Liberty  and  Necessity, 
41-43.  Meets  Bernard  de  Mande- 
ville  and  Henry  Pemberton,  43. 
His  London  life,  43,  44.  Re 
turns  to  Philadelphia,  44.  Em 
ployed  by  Keimer,  44.  Founds 
the  Junto,  44.  Becomes  father 
of  a  son,  45.  Forms  partnership 
with  Meredith,  45,  46.  First  job, 
46.  Prints  part  of  Sewel's  Hist, 
of  the  Quakers,  46.  Plans  a 
newspaper  and  is  betrayed  by 
Webb,  47.  Writes  "The  Busy 
Body  "  for  the  "  Mercury,"  48, 
49,  50.  Denies  that  he  printed 
"A  Touch  of  the  Times,"  50. 
Ridicules  Keimer,  50,  51.  Prob 
ably  wrote  "  A  Short  Discourse," 
etc.,  50,  51.  Buys  the  "  Universal 
Instructor,"  53.  Writes  a  pam 
phlet  on  paper  money,  60-64. 
Prints  the  Penna.  paper  money,  64. 
"  The  Pennsylvania  Gazette."  65. 
Character  of  the  Gazette,  66-88. 
Defends  Mr.  Hemphill,  79-82. 
Attempted  reforms,  82-85.  Forms 


a  fire  company,  85.  Paraphrases 
of  the  Bible,  85-89.  The 
"  Levee,"  89.  The  Parables,  90- 
92.  Abridgment  of  the  Cate 
chism,  92.  Poems,  93.  Dissolves 
partiiersliip  with  Meredith,  96. 
Opens  a  shop,  96.  Habits  of 
work,  97.  Begins  "Poor  Rich 
ard,"  97.  Takes  a  hint  from 
"  Poor  Robin,"  101.  The  name 
of  "  Richard  Saunders  "  from  an 
English  almanac,  101.  Issues 
"  Poor  Richard,"  102.  The  Pre 
faces,  103-109.  Humor  of,  109, 
110.  Poor  Richard's  maxims,  111- 
113.  Father  Abraham's  Address, 
114-220.  Popularity  of,  126- 
129.  Starts  a  magazine,  129. 
Quarrel  with  John  Webbe,  129- 

134.  Failure    of    the  magazine, 

135.  Plans    for    a    school,    136. 
Issues   "  Proposals    for    Promot 
ing  Useful  Knowledge,"  136, 137. 
Letter  to  his  brother,  140.   Writes 
"Plain  Truth,"  142.    Advertise 
ment  of,  142-144.     Starts  an  as 
sociation  for    defense,   145,    146. 
Popularity,   149.      His    proposals 
relative  to  the  education  of  youth, 
149-151.     Founds  Academy,  151. 
The  Academy  becomes  University 
of   Pennsylvania,   152.     Sells  the 
newspaper,    153.      Prosperity    of 
Franklin,  153,   154.     Returns  to 
scientific  studies,  155.    His  scien 
tific  pamphlets,   155,    156.       Re 
printed    in    London,    156.      The 
famous     kite    experiment,    156. 
"Translated  into  French,"   156. 
Neglected  by  the  Royal  Society, 
155.      Elected    a    member,    156. 
Given    the    Copley  Medal,    156. 
Made   a  postmaster  -  general  for 
the    colonies,    157.     Sent    to    an 
Indian-    conference    at    Carlisle, 

157.  Character  as  a  public  man, 

158.  Appoints    his    relatives  to 
office,  158.      Reforms    the    post- 
office,    158,  159.     "  Join  or  die," 
162.     Plan  of    Union  at  Albany, 
162.      Similarity    to    D.     Coxe's 
plan,    1G2,  163.      The    assembly 
sends    him    to    Braddock,     163. 
Furnishes  Braddock  with  wagons, 

164.  Is  thanked  by  the  assem 
bly,  164.      Frames  a  militia  bill, 

165.  Writes     "A  Dialogue  be 
tween  X,  Y,  and  Z,"  165.    Put 
in  command  of   the  troops  and 
goes  to  Gnadenhutten,  166.  Sent 


INDEX. 


287 


to  represent  the  province  at  Lon 
don,  167.  Writes  "Meanes  of 
disposing  the  Enemie  to  Peace," 
16.),  170.  "  The  Interest  of  Great 
Britain,"  attributed  to  him,  171, 
172.  Returns  to  Philadelphia, 
172.  Sent  to  remonstrate  with 
"  Paxton  Boys,"  177.  Writes  "  A 
Narrative  of  the  Late  Massacre," 
178.  "  Cool  Thoughts,"  180, 181. 
Speaker  of  the  assembly,  182. 
Signs  the  Address  to  the  King, 
182.  Preface  to  Galloway's 
Speech,  182.  Is  lampooned,  183, 
184.  The  election,  184-185.  Is 
defeated,  185.  Sent  to  London  as 
agent  of  the  province,  187. 
"  Remarks  on  a  Protest,"  187. 
Starts  for  London,  187.  His 
character  defended  by  Hughes, 
187,  188.  Estimate  of,  by  Pem- 
berton,  188.  Reaches  London, 
189.  Recommends  Hughes  as  a 
stamp  officer,  191.  His  opinion 
of  the  Stamp  Act,  191, 192.  Pop 
ular  rage  against  Franklin,  193- 
195.  Examined  before  Parlia 
ment,  198.  Lampooned,  198-200. 
Writings  in  the  London  news 
papers,  200-202.  "  Rules  for 
reducing  a  great  empire  to  a 
small  one,"  203.  "An  Edict  of  the 
King  of  Prussia,"  204,  205.  Mis 
cellaneous  Pieces,  205,  206.  Trip 
to  Paris,  206-208.  Meets  the 
"  Economists,"  206.  First  edition 
in  English  of  his  works,  207. 
First  translation  into  French,  207. 
Difficulties  of,  207,  208.  Hutchin- 
son  Letters,  208-212.  Turned 
out  of  the  post-office,  213.  De 
fends  his  action  in  the  Hutchin- 
son  affair,  213.  Tory  press 
attacks  him,  213.  Delivers  the 
Declaration  of  Rights,  214.  Re 
turns  to  America,  214.  Deborah 
Franklin  and  her  family,  215. 
Franklin  chosen  to  Congress, 
216,  217.  Sent  to  France,  217. 
History  of  the  mission,  218-220. 
Reception  at  Nantes,  220.  Mes 
senger  sent  to  forbid  his  coming 
to  Paris,  220.  Reception  at  Passy, 
221.  Great  popularity  of,  221- 
223.  Abused  in  French  books, 
223.  Writes  "A  Comparison  of 
Great  Britain  and  America,"  225. 
"  A  Dialogue,"  etc.,  225.  His  life 
at  Passy,  226,227.  Trouble  with 
the  privateers,  229,230.  Acknowl 


edged  by  France,  231.  Quarrels 
with  American  envoys,  232.  Sole 
Minister  to  France,  232.  His 
friends  at  Passy,  233.  Madame 
Brillon,  233.  Madame  Helvetius, 
234, 235.  The  Bagatelles,  236-240. 
Returns  to  United  States,  240- 
241.  Popularity  at  home,  241- 
243.  Papers  written  on  the  voy 
age  home,  241.  "Retort  Cour 
teous,"  243,  244-246.  "  Sending 
Felons  to  America,"  243,  244. 
"  Likeness  of  the  Antifederalists 
to  the  Jews,"  243.  Delegate  to 
the  Constitutional  Convention, 
246.  "Plea  for  Promoting  the 
Condition  of  the  Free  Blacks," 
246.  "Address  to  the  Public," 
etc.,  246.  "Account  of  the 
Supremest  Court,"  246,  247. 
"  Martin's  Account  of  his  Consul 
ship,"  249.  Death,  249,250.  His 
Autobiography,  251-269.  His 
works,  270-272.  His  place  among 
men  of  letters,  272,  273.  His 
teaching,  274,  275.  His  style, 
276.  LeffieFsT-  '276-278.  His 
greatness,  278, 279. 

Franklin,  Benjamin  (uncle  of  Ben 
jamin),  4  and  note. 

Franklin,  Deborah  Reed  :  Aids  her 
husband.  Letter  to  her  husband, 
194.  Life  and  family,  215. 

Franklin,  Josiah  :  Father  of  Ben 
jamin,  3.  Seeks  a  trade  for  Ben 
jamin,  4,  5.  Books  in  his  library, 
5. 

Franklin,  James  :  Benjamin  appren 
ticed  to,  11.  Prints  Boston  Ga 
zette,  13.  Starts  New  England 
Courant,  21.  Character  of  Cou- 
rant,  23.  In  jail  for  libel,  27,  28. 
Forbidden  to  print  Courant,  29. 
Cancels  the  indenture  of  Ben 
jamin,  30. 

Franklin,  William,  166. 

Franklin,  William  Temple:  Inher 
its  his  grandfather's  papers,  254. 
Advertises  for  them,  256,  257. 
Goes  to  London,  258.  Accused  of 
selling  the  papers,  260-264.  Pub 
lishes  part,  264.  History  of  the 
rest,  264,  265.  Bought  by  U.  S., 
265.  Trades  the  manuscript  of 
the  Autobiography,  266. 

Friends,  establish  a  press,  39. 

"  Freedom  of  Thought,"  26. 

French,  The:  Wars  with  the  English, 
55-57.  Explorations  and  discoveries 
by,  159,160.  Found  Mobile  and  New 


288 


INDEX. 


Orleans,  160.  Build  Crown  Point, 
Niagara,  Presque  Isle,  161.  At 
tempt  to  drive  the  English  from 
Ohio  Valley,  101,  1G2.  Continued 
success,  164,  1GG.  Defeats,  1G8. 

Galloway,  Joseph,  181.  Franklin's 
Preface  to  his  speech,  182.  Is 
defeated  for  assembly,  185.  Let 
ter  to  Franklin,  193,  194.  Frank 
lin  leaves  his  papers  with,  252. 

"Gazette,  The  Pennsylvania:" 
Founded  by  Keimer,  47,  48. 
Bought  by  Franklin  and  Meredith, 
Go.  Character  of,  66-88.  Ac 
count  of  the  witcli  trial,  71-74. 
Reply  to  the  ministers.  74— 7G. 
Defense  of  Mr.  Hemphill,  79-82. 
Account  of  the  "  Associators," 
142-144.  Sold  to  D.  Hall,  153. 
Effect  of  Stamp  Act  on,  196. 

Gazette,  The  Boston,  13. 

"  General  Magazine,"  129-135. 

Genesis,  Franklin's,  51st  chapter,  90. 

"  Gentleman's  Magazine,"  91,  205. 

German  language  :  First  newspaper 
in,  94.  First  book  printed  with 
German  type,  94. 

Gnadenhutteii,  164,  166. 

Governor  of  Pa.  :  Sends  Franklin  to 
Boston,  39.  To  London,  40.  Asks 
assembly  to  defend  the  province, 
137.  Reply  of  assembly,  138. 
Proclamation  of,  calling  for 
troops,  138,  139.  Quarrel  with 
assembly  over  redemptioners,  139. 
Quarrels  with  assembly  over  tax- 
bills,  1G5,  167.  Conduct  toward 
the  "  Paxton  Boys,"  175, 176. 

Green,  Dr.  S.  A.,  cited,  112,  note. 

Grenville  :  His  Stamp  Act,  188-190. 
Gives  the  colonial  agent  an  au 
dience,  190.  Falls  from  power, 
193. 

Hall,  D.:  Franklin  sells  the  Gazette, 
Almanac,  and  printing  house  to, 
152. 

«•  Hand-in-hand,"  The,  85. 

"Handsome  and  Deformed  Leg," 
236. 

Hanging  :  Scenes  at  the  hanging  of 
pirates,  14, 15, 

Harvard  College :  Books  not  in 
library  in  1723,  7.  First  copy  of 
"News  Letter"  carried  to  pres 
ident  of,  13. 

"  Heart-in-hand,"  85. 

Helvetius,  Madame,  233-235.  Baga 
telles  written  for,  236,  237,  238. 


Hemphill,  Samuel,  79.  Persecnted 
by  the  presbytery,  79-80.  De 
fended  by  Franklin,  80-82. 

"  Hints  for  those  that  would  be 
Rich,"  110. 

"  Historical  Collections,"  Burton's, 
8. 

"  Hooped  Petticoats  Arraigned,"  6. 

"Honour  of  the  Gout,"  97. 

Hopkinson,  Francis,  240. 

Hodge,  William,  229,  230. 

"How  to  Please  in  Conversation," 
78. 

"  Human  Vanity,"  237. 

Hunter,  Wm. ,  a  postmaster  -  gen 
eral  with  Franklin,  157. 

Humble  Petition,  presented  to  Ma 
dame  Helvetius  by  her  Cats,  237. 

Hughes,  John  :.  Defends  Franklin, 
187.  Stamp  distributer,  191. 
Letters  to  Franklin,  195. 

Hutchinson,  Thomas,  famous  letters 
of,  208-212. 

"Idea  of  an  English  School," etc. 
151. 

Indians  :  Franklin  has  a  conference 
with,  157.  Massacres  by,  in  Penn 
sylvania,  164.  Conspiracy  of 
Pontiac,  172,  173.  Moravian  In 
dians,  173.  Massacre  by  the 
"  Paxton  Boys,"  174,  175.  Rem 
nant  taken  to  Philadelphia,  175. 
Threatened  by  the  Paxton  Boys, 
176,  177.  "  Remarks  concerning 
the  Savages,"  157,  240. 

"Information  to  those  who  would 
remove  to  America,"  240. 

Inoculation:  Mather  attempts  to  in 
troduce  it  at  Boston,  22.  Is 
abused  by  the  Courant,  22,  23. 

"Interest  of  Great  Britain  Consid 
ered,"  dispute  as  to  authorslu'p, 
171,172. 

Intelligencer,  The  National,  charges 
against  Temple  Franklin  regard 
ing  the  Autobiography,  260-261. 

Izard,  Ralph,  211,  232. 

James,  Abel,  finds  MS.  of  Autobiog 
raphy,  255. 

Jansen,  Reynier,  39. 

"Janus,  Dr.,"  the  pretended  dic 
tator  of  the  Courant,  30-32. 

Jackson,  Richard.  171. 

Jackson,  James,  Franklin's  reply  to, 
248,  249. 

Jay,  John,  218. 

Jermaii,  John,  ridiculed  in  "  Poor 
Richard,"  108-109. 


INDEX. 


Jefferson,  Thomas,  218,  219. 

Job,  paraphrase  of  a  chapter,  87-89. 

"  The  Levee,"  89. 
"Join  or  die,"  1G2. 
Johnson,  Samuel,  remarks  on 

Franklin,  214,  245. 
Johnson,  Tiberius,  39. 
Joliet,  ICO. 

Jones,  John  Paul,  113,  114. 
Journal,  The  Pa.:  Charges  against 

Franklin,    199,   200.      Effect    of 

Stamp  Act  on,  196. 
Junto,  The,  94,  95. 

Kalendarium  Pennsilvaniense,  37, 
38. 

Kames,  Lord,  reprints  one  of  Frank 
lin's  Parables,  90. 

Keimer,  Samuel :  Opens  a  printing- 
office  at  Philadelphia,  39.  Em 
ploys  Franklin,  44.  Franklin 
leaves  Keimer,  45.  Prints  part  of 
Sewel's  History  of  Quakers,  4G.  Is 
sues  "  Universal  Instructor,"  etc. 
47,  48.  Writes  "  A  Touch  of  the 
Times,"  etc.,  150.  Is  ridiculed 
by  Franklin,  50,  51.  Is  ruined  in 
business,  53. 

Keith,  William,  Governor  of  Pa.,  39. 
Sends  Franklin  to  Boston,  39. 
Then  to  London,  40. 

"Kitelic,"26. 

Lafayette,  230. 

Lancaster  :  Scotch-Irish  in,  173,  174. 
Massacre  in,  174, 175. 

La  Salle,  160. 

Lampoons  of  Franklin,  183, 184, 186, 
195,  198-200. 

Law,  John,  his  Mississippi  Co., 
160. 

Le  Caron,  160. 

Le  Despencer,  Franklin  helps  in 
abridging  Prayer  Book. 

"  Le  Moyen  de  s'Enricher,"  208. 

Lee,  Arthur,  211,  219,  232. 

Lee,  William,  232. 

Leeds,  Daniel,  Almanacs  of,  96-100. 

Leeds,  Titan  :  Ridiculed  in  prefaces 
to  Poor  Richard,  103-107,  108. 
Compared  with  "Poor  Richard," 
111,  112. 

Letters,  The  Hutchinson,  208-212. 

"Letter  to  a  Friend  in  the  Coun 
try,"  80. 

"Levee,  The, "89. 

Lewiston,  excitement  caused  by  pri 
vateers,  142. 

"Liberty  and  Necessity,"  Disserta 
tion  on,  by  Franklin,  40-43. 


Liberty  of  the  Press,  246-248. 
Library  Company  of  Phila.,  94-95. 

Library  in  Boston,  6.      Harvard 

Library,  8. 

Likeness  of  the  Antifederalists  to 

the  Jews,"  243. 
Literature  read  in  the   colonies,  6, 

7.     Produced  in  the  colonies,  8. 

Lords  of  Trade  and  Plantations," 

warn    Pennsylvania   not  to  issue 

more  paper  bills,  59,  60. 
Lottery,  to  aid  Battery  Association, 

146. 

Louisburg,  rejoicings  over  the  cap 
ture  of,  140,  167. 
'  Louse,    History    of    a    French," 

Franklin  abused  in,  223. 
'  Lying  Tradesmen,"  78. 

Magazine,  The  Gentleman's,  reprints 
the  Parable  against  Persecution, 
90,  91.  Franklin  starts  "  The 
General  Magazine,"  129  - 134. 
Bradford  starts  "  The  American 
Magazine,"  134.  Each  fails,  135. 

Manuscripts,  the  Franklin,  history 
of,  251-270. 

"  Martin's  Account  of  his  Consul 
ship,"  248.  249. 

Marquette,  160. 

Massachusetts  :  First  newspaper  in 
U.  S.  printed  in,  11.  Suppresses 
it,  12.  Persecutes  James  Frank 
lin,  27-29.  Issues  paper  money, 
56,  57,  58.  A  stamp  act  in,  190. 

Massacres  by  the  Indians,  1G4.  Ex 
citement  caused  by,  165,  166. 

Mather,  Cotton  :  Character  of,  9,  10. 
Introduces  inoculation,  22.  De 
nounced  by  the  people,  22.  By 
the  Courant,  23.  Replies  to  Cou- 
rant,  23. 

Maxims  of  "Poor  Richard,"  111- 
114.  Collected  in  "  Father  Abra 
ham's  Address,"  114-126. 

"Maybe,  The,"  182. 

"  Meanes  of  disposing  the  Enemie  to 
Peace,"  169. 

Mecom,  Benjamin,  171. 

Medal,  The  Copley,  given  to  Frank 
lin,  156. 

"Meditations  on  a  Quart  Mug," 
70. 

"  Memorabilia,"  19. 

"  Mercury,  The  American,"  21,  47. 
Franklin's  essays  in,  49-53.  "  The 
Detection,"  130-134. 

Meredith,  Hugh,  45,  46. 

Meseres,  Baron,  171. 

Mesnard,  160. 


290 


INDEX. 


Mississippi  River,  discovered  by 
Marquette,  Joliet,  La  Salle,  1GO. 

Mission,  the  French  :  History  of, 
218-220.  Franklin  one  of  the 
commission,  219.  His  welcome, 
220. 

Mobile,  160. 

"  Modest  Inquiry  into  the  Nature 
and  Necessity  of  a  Paper  Cur 
rency,"  60-64. 

Money :  Sketch  of  issues  of  paper 
money  in  the  colonies,  55.  In 
Massachusetts,  5G.  In  South  Caro 
lina,  56.  In  New  Hampshire,  Con 
necticut,  Rhode  Island,  New  York, 
and  New  Jersey,  57.  "Banks  of 
paper  money,"  57,  58.  Paper 
money  in  Pennsylvania,  58,  59. 
"  Warning  of  the  Lords  of  Trade," 
59.  New  issues  wanted,  60. 
Franklin's  pamphlet  oil  paper 
money,  60-64. 

Monopoly,  an  ancient,  34,  35. 

"  Morals  of  Chess,"  236. 

Moravian  missionaries,  173. 

Moravian  Indians,  173.  Massacre 
of,  by  the  Paxton  Boys,  174,  175. 
Protected  at  Philadelphia,  175, 
177. 

Morellet,  Abb(5,  235,  237,  238. 

Mount  Holly,  witch  ducking  at,  71- 
74. 

Nantes,  reception  of  Franklin  at, 

220-221. 
"  Narrative  of  the  Late  Massacre," 

178-180. 
"Necessary  Truth,"  an  answer  to 

"  Plain  Truth,"  148. 
New  Castle,  houses  near,  plundered 

by  privateers,  141. 
"  New    Experiments   and   Observa-  i 

tions  in  Electricity,"  156. 
New  Hampshire,  issues  paper  bills, 

57. 
New  Jersey,  No  printing  press  in,  7. 

Early  roads  across,  34.     Journey 

of  Franklin  across,  34,  35.    Issues 

paper  bills,  57. 
New  York,  issues  paper  money,  57. 

A  stamp  act  in,  190. 
News  Letter,  12,  13,  14,  23. 
Newspapers,   first,  in  the  colonies, 

11.  Suppressed  by  government, 

12.  "The  News  Letter,"  12,  13. 
"Boston    Gazette"   started,    13. 
First  reporter,  14.  "  New  England 
Courant  "  begun  by  .James  Frank 
lin,     21.       Bradford's    "Weekly 
Mercury,"    47.      Keimer    issues 


"  Universal  Instructor,"  etc.,  47, 
48.  Franklin  and  Meredith  begin 
the  Pennsylvania  Gazette,  65. 
Character  of,  66-88.  First  Ger 
man,  94.  First  daily,  94.  Sale 
of  the  Pennsylvania  Gazette. 
Pennsylvania  Journal  attacks 
Franklin,  199,  200.  Effect  of  the 
Stamp  Act  on  the  newspapers, 
196.  Franklin's  writings  in  the 
London  newspapers,  200-206. 

Niagara,  161. 

"  Nightwalkers,"  26. 

"  No  Stamped  Paper  to  be  had," 
196. 

Nollet,  Abbe",  opposes  Franklin's 
theories,  156. 

Non-importation  agreement,  193. 

Norris,  Isaac,  167.  Refuses  to  sign, 
181.  Resigns  speakership,  182. 

"  Observations  on  the  Proceedings 
against  Rev.  Mr.  Hemphill,"  80, 
81. 

"  Observations  relative  to  the  In 
tentions  of  the  Original  Founders 
of  the  Academy  in  Philadelphia," 
152. 

Ohio  Company,  Surveyors  of,  cap 
tured  by  French,  162. 

Oliver,  Andrew,  Letters  to  Whately, 
209-212. 

(Euvres  de  M.  Franklin,  208. 

"  Origin  of  the  Whalebone  Petti 
coat,  "8. 

Pamphlet  regarding  the  Paxton 
Raid,  180,  181,  184. 

Papillon,  Peter,  27. 

Parables  :  Franklin's  parable  against 
persecution,  90,  91.  Parable  on 
brotherly  love,  91,  92. 

Paraphrases  :  Of  David's  Lamenta 
tion,  86.  Of  a  chapter  of  Job,  87, 
88.  "  The  Levee,"  89. 

Paris,  Popularity  of  the  American 
cause,  221-223.  Excitement  over 
American  successes,  230,  231. 

Parsons,  J.,  publishes  Autobiogra 
phy,  258. 

Passy  :  Franklin  reaches,  220.  His 
life  at,  22C-229,  233.  Sketch  of 
Madame  Brillon  and  Madame 
Helvetius,  233-235.  Street  in, 
called  Franklin,  250. 

Paxton  :  Massacre  of  the  Indians  by 
men  from,  174,  175.  "  Paxton 
Boys "  march  to  Philadelphia, 
175,  176.  Their  grievances,  177. 
Ride  back  to  Lancaster,  178. 


INDEX. 


291 


Pemberton,  Israel :  His  estimate  of 
Franklin,  188. 

Penn,  William,  2,  37. 

Penn,  John,  175,  176. 

Pennsylvania :  Censorship  of  the 
press,  38.  No  press  in,  39.  Gov. 
Keith,  39.  Issues  paper  money, 
69.  Warning  of  the  Lords  of 
Trade,  59,  GO.  More  paper  wanted, 
60.  Franklin  defends  the  issue, 
61-64.  Franklin  prints  the  bills, 

64.  Activity  of  the  press,  93,  94. 
Governor  asks  assembly  to   put 
the  province  in  a  state  of  defense, 

137.  Reply  of  the  assembly,  138. 
Proclamation    of    the    governor, 

138.  139.   Governor  and  assembly 
quarrel  about  the  redemptioners, 

139.  Outrages  on  the  Delaware 
by  privateers,  141.     Action  of  the 
assembly  regarding,  141.     Excite 
ment  at  Lewiston,  142.     Associa 
tion    for    defense   of    the  prov 
ince,  144-148.    Indian  conference 
at    Carlisle,    157.     Trouble   with 
the  French,  161.     Delegates  sent 
to  Albany,  161,  162.     Capture  of 
Trent,     162.     Braddock's    expe 
dition,  163,  164.     Devastation    of 
the  province,  164,  165.     Measures 
of    the    assembly,   165.      Quarrel 
with  the  Penns,  165.   Vote  money, 

166.  Quarrel  with  the  governor, 

167.  Sends  Franklin  to  represent 
the  province  in  London,  167.  Con 
spiracy  of  Pontiac,  172, 173.     Mo 
ravian  Indians  in  Lancaster,  173. 
Massacre  by  Paxton    Boys,   174, 
175.     Assembly  censure  the  pro 
prietary  family,  180. 

Perth  Amboy,  34. 

Peters,  Rev.  Richard,  136. 

"  Petition  of  the  Left  Hand,"  236. 

"  Perfumes,"  266. 

Philadelphia :  Franklin  reaches 
the  city,  35.  Andrew  Bradford, 
36.  History  of  printing  at,  36-39. 
The  Pennsylvania  Gazette  started, 

65,  66.      Franklin    attempts    to 
reform     the      city     watch,     83; 
forms  the  Union  Fire  Company, 
85.     Activity  of  the  press,  93,  94. 
Library    Company,    94,95.       Al 
manac  makers  in,  99, 100.      First 
magazines  in  the  United  States, 
129-135.     Rejoicings  over  capture 
of   Louisburg,   140.      Excitement 
over  outrages  on  the   Delaware, 
141.     Appearance  of  Plain  Truth, 
142-144.  Association  for  Defense, 


144, 145.  Preparations  for  defense, 

146.  Lottery  started,  146.     Ac 
tion   of  the   fire  companies,   146, 

147.  "Academy  and   Charitable 
School,"  149-152.     University  of 
Pennsylvania,    152.      Excitement 
over  Indian  outrages,  164.    Bodies 
of    the    killed    displayed  in    the 
streets,   164,  165.     Moravian  In 
dians    taken    to,    175.      City    is 
threatened    by   "Paxton  Boys," 
175-177.      Excitement    over    the 
"  Raid,"  178,  179.    Pamphlets  on, 
180,   181.     Old-time   election  at, 
184-186.       Franklin    returns   to, 
240,241.     Popularity  at,  241-243. 

"  Philadelphische  Zeitung,"  94. 

"  Pilgrim's  Progress,"  8. 

Pirates :  Abundance  of,  in  the  colo 
nies,  14.  Names  of  famous,  14. 
Treatment  of,  15.  "  Blackboard" 
or  Theach,  16,  17.  Franklin 
writes  a  ballad  on,  18.  Notice  of, 
in  the  Courant,  26. 

"Plain  Dealer,"  180. 

"  Plain  Truth,"  142.  Advertise 
ment  of,  142,  143.  Purpose  of, 
144.  Influence  of,  148.  Answers 
to,  148. 

"  Plea  for  Improving  the  Condition 
of  Free  Blacks,"  246. 

Pleiades,  Titan,  51, 52. 

Poems,  written  by  Franklin,  92. 

Pollard,  Ann,  1,  2. 

Pontiac,  conspiracy  of,  172,  173. 

"  Poor  Richard,"  Name  taken  from 
"Poor  Robin,"  101.  "Richard 
Saunders,"  taken  from  an  Eng 
lish  almanac,  101,  102.  First  num 
ber  issued,  102.  Prefaces,  103- 
109.  Humor  of,  109,  110.  Saws 
and  Maxims,  111,  112.  Borrowed 
from  Ray,  112,113.  Effect  on 
Paul  Jones,  113,  114.  Father  Ab 
raham's  Address,  114-126.  Popu 
larity  of,  127-129. 

"  Poor  Robin,"  gives  a  hint  for 
"  Poor  Richard,"  101, 102. 

Postmaster  :  Duties  of,  at  Boston,  12. 
"News  Letter  "  started  by,  12, 
13.  "Boston  Gazette"  started 
by,  13. 

Postmaster-general  for  the  colo 
nies,  Franklin  appointed  a,  157. 

Post-office,  reforms  of  Franklin  in 
the,  158,  159. 

"  Preface  to  a  Speech,"  182. 

Press,  Printing  :  few  in  the  colonies, 
7.  First  in  Middle  Colonies,  36. 
Struggle  for  Liberty  of,  in  Penn- 


292 


INDEX. 


sylvania,  37,  38.  Early  printers 
in  Pennsylvania,  39.  Activity  of, 
in  Pennsylvania,  94,95.  Liberty 
of,  246-248. 

Price,  Dr.,  253,  258,  259. 

"Pride  and  Hooped  Petticoats," 
26. 

Priestley,  Dr.,  171. 

Printers  :  Early  printers  in  Philadel 
phia,  39.  Defence  of,  75,  76. 

Privateers :  Spanish  privateers  off 
the  coast,  139.  French  and  Span 
ish,  in  the  Delaware,  140,  141, 
142.  American,  229,  230. 

Proclamation  of  the  Governor  of 
Pennsylvania,  138,  139. 

"Public  Occurrences,"  first  news 
paper  in  the  colonies,  11, 12. 

Quakers,  Sewel's  History  of,  46. 
Question  of  military  service,  138, 
140,141,  164,165,176,179. 

Quebec,  56. 

Quelch,  the  pirate,  his  death  the 
occasion  of  the  first  newspaper 
reporting  in  America,  14,  15. 

Ray :  Franklin  borrows  from  his 
"  Collection  of  English  Proverbs," 
112,  note. 

"Redeemed  Captive  Returning  to 
Zion,"  8. 

Redemptioners,  Quarrel  of  gover 
nor  and  assembly  regarding, 
139. 

Reforms  attempted  by  Franklin, 
82-85.  In  the  post-office,  158, 159. 

"  Religion  of  Nature  Delineated," 
Wollaston's,  40.  Replied  to  by 
Franklin,  40-43. 

"  Religious  Courtship,"  of  De  Foe, 
48. 

41  Remarkable  Occurrences,"  196. 

"Remarks  concerning  the  Savages 
of  North  America,"  157,  240. 

"  Remarks  on  a  Protest,"  187. 

Reporting  :  First  newspaper  report 
ing  in  America,  14,  15. 

"  Repository,  The,"  discusses  the 
authorship  of  one  of  Franklin's 
parables,  91. 

"  Retort  Courteous,"  243,  244-246. 

Reyners,  Joseph,  39. 

Rhode  Island  :  No  printing  press  in, 
7.  Issues  paper  bills,  57. 

Roads  across  New  Jersey,  34,  35. 

Royal  Society  neglects  Franklin's 
letter,  155.  Elects  him  a  mem 
ber,  156.  Gives  him  the  Copley 
medal,  156. 


"  Rules  of  Health,"  110. 
"  Rules  for  reducing  a  great  empire 
to  a  small  one,"  203. 

Saunders,  Bridget,  103, 105,  107. 

Saunders,  Richard  :  Edits  an  Eng 
lish  almanac,  101.  Franklin  as 
sumes  the  name,  101. 

"  Sea  Hens  and  Black  Gowns,"  74, 

"Scandal,"  79. 

School :  Franklin  proposes  to  found 
the  "  Academy  and  Charitable 
School,"  136.  Founds  Philadel 
phia  Academy,  149-152. 

"  Science  du  Bonhomme  Richard," 
128. 

Scotch-Irish,  of  Lancaster,  173, 
174.  Threaten  the  Indians,  174. 
Massacre  the  Indians,  174,  175. 

"  Sending  Felons  to  America," 
243. 

Sewel,  William,  History  of  the 
Quakers  reprinted  in  Philadel 
phia,  46. 

Sewell,  Chief  Justice,  13. 

Shaftesbury,  19. 

Shakespeare :  Earliest  copy  of 
works  in  America,  7. 

"  Shavers  and  Trimmers,"  77. 

"  Short  Discourse  Proving  that  the 
Jewish  or  Seventh  Day  Sabbath 
is  Repealed,"  probably  written 
by  Franklin,  50,  51. 

Shute,  Samuel,  Governor  of  Mas 
sachusetts,  26,  28.  Courant  at 
tacks  him,  28,  29. 

"  Simple  Cobbler  of  Agawam,"  etc., 

Single,  Celia.  78. 

Smith,   John  :    Writes   "  Necessary 

Truth,"   147.    Action  in  his  fire 

company,  147. 
South  Carolina  :  North  Carolina  not 

cut    off  from,    2.      Issues  paper 

bills,  56. 

Sowle,  Andrew,  37. 
"  Spectator,  The  :  "  Influence  of,  on 

Franklin,  19,   20.     His  imitation 

of,  24. 
Stamp    Act,    189-191.      Franklin's 

opinion  of,  191,  192.     Feeling  in 

America,  193, 194-198.   Repeal  of, 

198. 
Stevens,  Henry,  buys  the  Franklin 

MS.,  256. 

Story,  Thomas,  219. 
Stuber,  Henry,  his  Life  of  Franklin, 

259. 

"  Supplement  to  the  Boston  Inde 
pendent  Chronicle,"  238,  239. 


INDEX. 


293 


Tax :  Quarrel  regarding  taxes  on 
Penn  estate,  165,  166,  167. 

Taylor,  Jacob,  39. 

Taylor,  Jeremy,  90-97. 

Teacroft,  Patience,  78. 

Temple,  John  :  Duel  with  Whately, 
211. 

Theach,  John,  the  pirate,  1C,  17. 
Franklin's  ballad  on,  14,  18. 

"  Thoughts  of  the  Ephemera,"  etc., 
78. 

Tolls  on  roads  in  New  Jersey,  34. 

"  Touch  of  the  Times,  A,"  Frank 
lin  denies  having  printed  it,  50. 

"  Treacle  fetched  out  of  a  Viper," 
8. 

Treasure,  belief  in  hidden,  51-53. 

Treaty  of  1783,  story  regarding  the 
signing  denied,  212. 

"  True  and  Impartial  State  of  Penn 
sylvania,"  180. 

"  True  Happiness,"  79. 

Union  :  The  Albany  plan,  161,  162. 

Similarity  to    a  plan    of    Daniel 

Coxe,  162,  163.     Failure,  163. 
"Union,  The,"  Fire  Company,  85, 

147. 
United  States  Government,  buys  the 

Franklin  Manuscripts,  265. 
"  Universal  Instructor,  The,"  issued 

by  Keimer,   47,  48.     Bought  by 

Franklin,  53. 
University  of  Pennsylvania,  founded 

1749  by  Franklin,  152. 
"Usefulness  of  Mathematics,"  78. 

Vaughan,  Benjamin,  253. 

Veillard,  M.  le,  253,  254,  255,  256. 

Vergennes  :  Sends  messenger  to  for 
bid  Franklin  coming  to  Paris,  220. 
Trouble  with  the  privateer,  229. 
Forbids  the  discussion  of  Amer 
ican  affairs,  230. 


Virginia,  First  printing  press  in,  37. 
"  Visit  to  the  Elysian  Fields,"  236. 
Voltaire,  222.      ' 

Votes  and  Proceedings,  etc.,  of  the 
people  of  Boston,  205, 206. 

"Waste  of  Life,"  79. 

"  Watch,  The  City,"  82,  83.  Frank 
lin  attempts  to  reform  it,  83,  84. 

"  Way  to  Wealth,"  128, 129.  French 
translation  of,  208.  Popularity  in 
France,  221. 

Webb,  George,  betrays  Franklin's 
plans  to  Keimer,  47,  48. 

Webbe,  John,  betrays  Franklin's 
plan  for  a  magazine,  129,  130. 
"  The  Detection,"  130-144.  Starts 
The  American  Magazine,  134,  135. 

Wedderburn,  212. 

Whately,  William,  Letters  from 
Hutchinson  and  Oliver,  209-212. 

"  Whistle,  The  Story  of  the,"  236. 

Wickes,  Lambert,  229. 

Witch  ducking  at  Mount  Holly,  72- 

Wollaston  :  "  Religion  of  Nature," 
40.  Franklin's  reply  to,  40,  41. 

Writings  of  Franklin :  Ballads,  14- 
18.  Dogood  Papers,  25,  26.  Con 
tributions  to  the  Courant,  30-32. 
Discourse  on  Liberty  and  Neces 
sity,  40-43.  "  Busybody,"  49-53. 
''  A  Modest  Inquiry  into  the  Na 
ture  and  Necessity  of  a  Paper 
Currency,  60-64.  Contributions 
to  Pennsylvania  Gazette,  65-88. 
Pamphlets  in  defense  of  Mr. 
Hemphill,  79-82.  Paraphrases  of 
the  Bible,  86-90.  Parables,  90-92. 
"The  Levee,"  90.  Abridgment 
of  the  Catechism,  92. 

Xenophon,  19. 

Zionitischer  Weyrauch-Hugel,  94. 


American  JHen  of 


EDITED   BY 

CHARLES  DUDLEY  WARNER. 

A  series  of  biographies  of  distinguished  American 
authors,  having  all  the  special  interest  of  biography, 
and  the  larger  interest  and  value  of  illustrating  the 
different  phases  of  American  literature,  the  social, 
political,  and  moral  influences  which  have  moulded 
these  authors  and  the  generations  to  which  they  be 
longed. 

Washington  Irving.    By  CHARLES  DUDLEY  WARNER. 
Noah  Webster.    By  HORACE  E.  SCUDDER. 
Henry  D.  Thoreau.    By  FRANK  B.  SANBORN. 
George  Ripley.    By  OCTAVIUS  BROOKS  FROTHINGHAM. 
J.  Fenimore  Cooper.    By  THOMAS  R.  LOUNSBURY. 
Margaret  Fuller  Ossoli.     By  T.  W.  HIGGINSON. 
Ralph  Waldo  Emerson.    By  OLIVER  WENDELL  HOLMES. 
T?dgar  Allan  Poe.     By  GEORGE  E.  WOODBERRY. 
Nathaniel  Parker  Willis.    By  HENRY  A.  BEERS. 

IN  PREPARA  TION. 

Benjamin  Franklin.     By  JOHN  BACH  MCMASTER. 
Nathaniel  Hawthorne.     By  JAMES  RUSSELL  LOWELL. 
William  Cullen  Bryant.     By  JOHN  BIGELOW. 
Bayard  Taylor.     By  J.  R.  G.  HASSARD. 
William  Gilmore  Simms.     By  GEORGE  W.  CABLE. 
Others  to  be  announced  hereafter. 

Each  volume,  with  Portrait,  i6mo,  gilt  top,  $1.25; 
cloth,  uncut  edges,  paper  2abel,  $1.50;  half  morocco, 
$2.50. 


"WASHINGTON    IRVING." 

Mr.  Warner  has  not  only  written  with  sympathy,  mi 
nute  knowledge  of  his  subject,  fine  literary  taste,  and  that 
easy,  fascinating  style  which  always  puts  him  on  such 
good  terms  with  his  readers,  but  he  has  shown  a  tact, 
critical  sagacity,  and  sense  of  proportion  full  of  promise 
for  the  rest  of  the  series  which  is  to  pass  under  his 
supervision. — New  York  Tribune. 

It  is  a  very  charming  piece  of  literary  work,  and  pre 
sents  the  reader  with  an  excellent  picture  of  Irving  as  a 
man  and  of  his  methods  as  an  author,  together  with  an 
accurate  and  discriminating  characterization  of  his  works. 
—  Boston  Journal. 

It  would  hardly  be  possible  to  produce  a  fairer  or  more 
candid  book  of  its  kind. — Literary  World  (London). 

"NOAH    WEBSTER." 

Mr.  Scudder's  biography  of  Webster  is  alike  honorable 
to  himself  and  its  subject.  Finely  discriminating  in  all 
that  relates  to  personal  and  intellectual  character,  schol 
arly  and  just  in  its  literary  criticisms,  analyses,  and 
estimates,  it  is  besides  so  kindly  and  manly  in  its  tone,  its 
narrative  is  so  spirited  and  enthralling,  its  descriptions 
are  so  quaintly  graphic,  so  varied  and  cheerful  in  their 
coloring,  and  its  pictures  so  teem  with  the  bustle,  the 
movement,  and  the  activities  of  the  real  life  of  a  by-gone 
but  most  interesting  age,  that  the  attention  of  the  reader 
is  never  tempted  to  wander,  and  he  lays  down  the  book 
with  a  sigh  of  regret  for  its  brevity.  — Harper's  Monthly 
Magazine. 

It  fills  completely  its  place  in  the  purpose  of  this  se 
ries  of  volumes.  —  The  Critic  (New  York). 

"  HENRY    D.    THOREAU." 

Mr.  Sanborn's  book  is  thoroughly  American  and  truly 
fascinating.  Its  literary  skill  is  exceptionally  good,  and 
there  is  a  racy  flavor  in  its  pages  and  an  amount  of  exact 
knowledge  of  interesting  people  that  one  seldom  meets 
with  in  current  literature.  Mr.  Sanborn  has  done  Tho- 
reau's  genius  an  imperishable  service.  — American  Church 
Review  (New  York). 

Mr.  Sanborn  has  written  a  careful  book  about  a  curious 
man,  whom  he  has  studied  as  impartially  as  possible ; 
whom  he  admires  warmly  but  with  discretion  ;  and  the 
story  of  whose  life  he  has  told  with  commendable  frank- 
ness  and  simplicity.  —  New  York  Mail  and  Express. 

It  is  undoubtedly  the  best  life  of  Thoreau  extant.— 
Christian  Advocate  (New  York). 


"GEORGE    RIPLEY." 

Mr.  Frothingham's  memoir  is  a  calm  and  thoughtful 
and  tender  tribute.  It  is  marked  by  rare  discrimination, 
and  good  taste  and  simplicity.  The  biographer  keeps 
himself  in  the  background,  and  lets  his  subject  speak. 
And  the  result  is  one  of  the  best  examples  of  personal 
portraiture  that  we  have  met  with  in  a  long  time.  —  The 
Churchman  (New  York). 

He  has  fulfilled  his  responsible  task  with  admirable 
fidelity,  frank  earnestness,  justice,  fine  feeling,  balanced 
moderation,  delicate  taste,  and  finished  literary  skill.  It 
is  a  beautiful  tribute  to  the  high-bred  scholar  and  gener 
ous-hearted  man,  whose  friend  he  has  so  worthily  por 
trayed. —  Rev.  William  H.  Channing  (London). 

"JAMES  FENIMORE  COOPER." 
We  have  here  a  model  biography.  The  book  is  charm 
ingly  written,  with  a  felicity  and  vigor  of  diction  that  are 
notable,  and  with  a  humor  sparkling,  racy,  and  never 
obtrusive.  The  story  of  the  life  will  have  something  of 
the  fascination  of  one  of  the  author's  own  romances.  — 
New  York  Tribune. 

Prof.  Lcunsbury's  book  is  an  admirable  specimen  of 
literary  biography.  .  .  .  We  can  recall  no  recent  addition 
to  American  biography  in  any  department  which  is  supe 
rior  to  it.  It  gives  the  reader  not  merely  a  full  account 
of  Cooper's  literary  career,  but  there  is  mingled  with  this 
a  sufficient  account  of  the  man  himself  apart  from  his 
books,  and  of  the  period  in  which  he  lived,  to  keep 
alive  the  interest  from  the  first  word  to  the  last.  —  New 
York  Evening  Post.  

"MARGARET  FULLER  OSSOLI." 
Here  at  last  we  have  a  biography  of  one  of  the  noblest 
and  the  most  intellectual  of  American  women,  which  does 
full  justice  to  its  subject.  The  author  has  had  ample 
material  for  his  work,  —  all  the  material  now  available, 
perhaps,  —  and  has  shown  the  skill  of  a  master  in  his 
use  of  it.  ...  It  is  a  fresh  view  of  the  subject,  and  adds 
important  information  to  that  already  given  to  the  public. 
—  REV.  DR.  F.  H.  HEDGE,  in  Boston  Advertiser. 

He  has  filled  a  gap  in  our  literary  history  with  excel 
lent  taste,  with  sound  judgment,  and  with  that  literary 
skill  which  is  preeminently  his  own.  —  Christian  Union 
(New  York). 

Mr.  Higginson  writes  with  both  enthusiasm  and  sym 
pathy,  and  makes  a  volume  of  surpassing  interest.— 
Commercial  Advertiser  (New  York). 


"RALPH   WALDO   EMERSON." 

A  biography  of  Emerson  by  Holmes  is  a  real  event  in 
American  literature.  ...  He  has  brought  Emerson  him' 
self  so  near,  and  painted  him  for  us  with  a  pencil  so 
loving  and  yet  so  just,  that  it  will  remain  with  many  of 
us  a  question  which  shall  be  hereafter  most  dear  to  us, 
the  man  whom  the  artist  thus  reveals,  or  the  artist  him 
self.  —  Standard  (Chicago). 

Dr.  Holmes  has  written  one  of  the  most  delightful 
biographies  that  has  ever  appeared.  Every  page  sparkles 
with  genius.  His  criticisms  are  trenchant,  his  analysis 
clear,  his  sense  of  proportion  delicate,  and  his  sympa 
thies  broad  and  deep.  —  Philadelphia  Press. 


"EDGAR   ALLAN   POE." 

Mr.  Woodberry  has  contrived  with  vast  labor  to  con 
struct  what  must  hereafter  be  called  the  authoritative 
biography  of  Poe  —  a  biography  which  corrects  all  others, 
supplements  all  others,  and  supersedes  all  others.  —  The 
Critic  (New  York). 

The  best  life  of  Poe  that  has  yet  been  written,  and  no 
better  one  is  likely  to  be  written  hereafter.  This  is  high 
praise,  but  it  is  deserved.  Mr.  Woodberry  has  spared  no 
pains  in  exploring  sources  of  information  ;  he  has  shown 
rare  judgment  and  discretion  in  the  interpretation  of  what 
he  has  found ;  he  has  set  forth  everything  frankly  and 
fairly ;  and  he  has  brought  to  bear  upon  the  critical  part 
of  his  work  a  keen  instinct,  a  well-informed  mind,  a  sound 
judgment,  and  the  utmost  catholicity  of  spirit. — Commer' 
cial  Advertiser  (New  York). 

"NATHANIEL   PARKER  WILLIS." 

Prof.  Beers  has  done  his  work  sympathetically  yet  can 
didly  and  fairly  and  in  a  philosophic  manner,  indicating 
the  status  occupied  by  Willis  in  the  republic  of  letters, 
and  sketching  graphically  his  literary  environment  and 
the  main  springs  of  his  success.  It  is  one  of  the  best 
books  of  an  excellent  series.  —  Buffalo  Times. 

The  work  is  sober,  frank,  honest,  trustworthy,  and  em 
inently  readable.  —  The  Beacon  (Boston). 

A  delightful  biographical  study.  —  Brooklyn  Union. 

***  For  sale  by  all  Booksellers.  Sent,  post-paid,  on  receipt 
of  price  by  the  Publishers, 

HOUGHTON,  MIFFLIN   AND   COMPANY, 
BOSTON  AND  NEW  YORK. 


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